“I Was Making a Choice,” Says Michelle Obama, Addressing Divorce Rumors

In a conversation with actress Sophia Bush on the Work In Progress podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed that she has been using her present time to focus on her health and well-being. Now that her daughters are adults, she is reassessing her priorities.

Michelle’s absence from President Donald Trump’s second inauguration sparked speculation that things might not be well within the family, with rumors suggesting that the couple was heading for a divorce.

However, Mrs. Obama explained that her decision to stay away from public events was deliberate, as she was prioritizing her own health and overall well-being.

She elaborated that many women feel uncomfortable prioritizing themselves and often struggle with the fear of disappointing others.

“That’s the thing that we, as women, I think we struggle with — disappointing people,” she said. “I mean, so much so that this year, people couldn't even fathom that I was making a choice for myself. They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”

“I could have made a lot of these decisions years ago, but I didn’t give myself that freedom. Maybe even as much as I let my kids live their own lives, I used their lives as an excuse for why I couldn’t do something,” she added, as per CNN.

Michelle Obama has always been confident, articulate, and graceful in her conversations. The former First Lady doesn’t shy away from tough topics and speaks with clarity and purpose.

Now that she has more freedom, she’s using her time and energy to take better care of herself. That said, she hasn’t completely stepped away from public life — she still delivers speeches and continues working on projects close to her heart.

Her initiatives, Let’s Move! and Joining Forces, reflect her strong commitment to supporting children, military families, and underrepresented communities. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, she also remains deeply involved in advocating for girls’ education.