Michelle Obama is opening up about her marriage to Barack Obama in one of the couple’s most personal interviews in years, conducted by PEOPLE.
As they prepare for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, the former president and first lady sat down with PEOPLE for a candid conversation about their relationship, family life and the journey they have shared over more than three decades together.
The couple, who have been married for nearly 34 years, reflected on how their partnership has evolved from their early days in Chicago to their years in the White House and beyond.
Speaking about their relationship, Barack Obama joked that he may have benefited more from the marriage than his wife.
“I don’t know if it’s been an equal partnership, but it’s worked out for me pretty well,” he said. “I’ve gotten more out of it than she has.”
Michelle, however, quickly pushed back against the comment and praised her husband for the role he has played throughout their life together.
“We are each other’s counterbalance,” she said.
“The truth is, I probably would have been someone who stayed more put. I think I would have had a beautiful life here, but it would have been smaller. But because of who my husband is, he offered all of us — our girls, my mom, my family — a broader sense of what’s possible in life.”
She went on to describe Barack as both a source of encouragement and stability.
“He gave me the courage. He was my ballast. He was like, ‘I got you.’ And however hard it’s been, the ups and downs, he’s got me.”
Barack also reflected on the impact Michelle has had on his own life.
“I knew almost immediately that this was a one-of-a-kind woman,” he said. “Just being with her made me better, and she still does.”
The couple also shared memories of their time in the White House, where daughters Malia and Sasha spent much of their childhood.
Michelle recalled family milestones that took place during those years, including birthdays, proms and graduation celebrations.
“We had a fun White House,” she said. “It was our home.”
Now nearly a decade after leaving Washington, the Obamas say they are focused on the next chapter of their legacy through the Obama Presidential Center, which is opening in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood.
While Barack admitted he remains somewhat uncomfortable with projects centered on his accomplishments, Michelle said she is proud of what he has built.
“This is my husband’s vision from top to bottom,” she said.
For many readers, however, it was the couple’s heartfelt reflections on their marriage that stood out most — a rare glimpse into the relationship that has remained at the center of their public and private lives for more than three decades.
