Michelle Obama Opens Up About Longstanding Marital ‘Battle.’ Reveals What Barack is ‘Scared’ of as Divorce Rumors Swirl

As speculation continues to mount regarding the state of Barack and Michelle Obama’s marriage, the former First Lady is addressing an ongoing domestic struggle with her husband that has spanned decades — and it has nothing to do with politics or public life.

Instead, it’s something far more relatable: the thermostat. Yes, that’s right, the thermostat.

In a candid and light-hearted appearance on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, hosted by the Saturday Night Live alum herself, Michelle, 61, revealed a long-running household dispute with her husband of 33 years that has left him — quite literally — chilled.

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“Sometimes I get into bed freezing, and other times I feel like I need to take my skin off,” Michelle shared during the podcast episode.

“It’s a battle with a partner because he’s always cold and I’m like, ‘Do not touch [the thermostat].’”

She went on to recount how Barack, 63, has grown so wary of the consequences of adjusting the bedroom temperature that he now denies even going near the dial.

“Sometimes I wake up hot and I’ll wake him up [to ask], ‘Did you touch the thermostat? You touched it, didn’t you?’” Michelle laughed. “He’s so scared of the thermostat that he’ll say, ‘I didn’t, I swear.’”

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Michelle has a firm preference for a 68-degree bedroom and insists on “cool sheets,” even as her husband, who she affectionately calls a “night owl,” shivers through the night.

“He’s freezing, and I’m like, ‘Just put on some socks,’” she added.

While the thermostat conflict is a humorous anecdote many couples can relate to, it comes at a time when the Obamas’ relationship is under public scrutiny.

Don’t mess with Michelle Obama’s thermostat. 🎥: Good Hang with Amy Poehler pic.twitter.com/p1aDoPOcFP

— Page Six (@PageSix) May 14, 2025

Rumors of an impending divorce have been swirling for months, gaining traction after Michelle was notably absent from several major public events earlier this year.

Her decision to skip both the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter and the inauguration of Donald Trump in January — making her the only living former First Lady to miss both events — only fueled the speculation.

Adding more heat to the rumors, political commentator Meghan McCain brought up the possibility of a split on reporter Tara Palmeri’s podcast earlier this year.

“I have been hearing this rumor that the Obamas are getting a divorce by reputable people,” McCain said. “I’m not talking about TMZ, I’m not talking about Perez Hilton, although I love him, he’s my friend.”

“I’m talking about very serious journalists telling me that they’re hearing the Obama divorce rumors are true,” she continued.
Palmeri, a seasoned Washington insider, responded by affirming the chatter.

“We’ve heard that for a long time,” she said. “Like I just heard that they live separate lives.”

While Michelle’s thermostat story may seem like an ordinary slice of married life, some observers are interpreting it as yet another sign of deeper marital tension.

Amy Poehler says that Michelle Obama now looks “incredible” and “hot.”

Michelle has certainly lost some weight. But incredible and hot? pic.twitter.com/NUdErjz5Z5

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 14, 2025

Still, Michelle’s tone throughout the interview was playful, even tender, especially when she delved into the dynamics of how she and Barack tease one another.

“We have a deal, Barack and I, in our marriage,” she said.

“It started very early and it’s like, ‘I can tease you but you cannot tease me.’”
The former First Lady joked about how this rule has played out in family life, particularly with their daughters Malia and Sasha.

“So when he does [tease], I’m like, ‘Oh oh oh, wait a minute, what’s going on here?’” she said, laughing. “But when me, Malia, and Sasha are all together, he doesn’t stand a chance. We mercilessly go after him. Teasing is our love language and I tell him that. I say, ‘When I tease you, it’s like a love tap.’”

Despite these moments of humor and apparent warmth, Michelle’s remarks are doing little to silence the chorus of gossip about the state of their relationship.

Public appearances together have become increasingly rare, and Michelle’s notably independent schedule has raised more questions than answers.

Meghan McCain spills on Obama divorce rumors amid claims they ‘live separate lives pic.twitter.com/8tR3d3eQAt

— Simo Saadi🇺🇸🇲🇦 (@Simo7809957085) January 23, 2025

For now, neither Barack nor Michelle have addressed the divorce rumors directly.

But if Michelle’s words are any indication, their marriage — like many long-term relationships — is full of quirks, compromises, and, yes, the occasional chilly standoff over the thermostat.

Whether these lighthearted anecdotes reflect the resilience of a time-tested partnership or hint at deeper divides remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: when it comes to the Obamas, the public’s fascination with their relationship is far from cooling down.

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