Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were seen together on a date night in New York City, their first public appearance as a couple in over six months. The outing, which took place at the Lowell Hotel’s restaurant, comes amid ongoing online speculation about the state of their marriage. The couple, accompanied by a full Secret Service detail, attracted the attention of passersby and media observers alike.
Michelle Obama, now 61, was seen leading the way to their vehicle. Wearing a black dress and matching heels, she smiled as they exited the restaurant. Barack Obama followed closely behind but appeared more subdued. Observers noted the contrast in demeanor, with Michelle appearing upbeat while the former president remained quiet and reserved.
This public appearance follows a period of absence by the former first lady from several notable public events earlier this year, which has fueled speculation about the couple’s relationship. Michelle did not attend the presidential inauguration in January nor the funeral service for former President Jimmy Carter. Additionally, she was not present alongside Barack at the NBA All-Star Game in March, despite the pair often attending similar events in the past.
Michelle addressed some of the ongoing rumors during a recent appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast. She dismissed speculation that her absences were related to marital troubles, explaining that her decisions were personal and aimed at prioritizing her own well-being. “If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it,” she said. She emphasized that choosing not to attend certain events was part of her effort to take care of herself and embrace a new phase in life.
The former first lady has spoken candidly over the years about the challenges of marriage. During the podcast, she acknowledged that while her marriage with Barack has its difficulties, she remains committed. “Marriage is hard,” she said, adding, “I wouldn’t trade it,” and calling Barack “my person.”
She went on to explain that both she and the former president are committed to their partnership. “The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was ever really, ever going to quit at it, because that’s not who we are. And I know that about him. He knows that about me.”
Michelle also shared that she is currently in therapy, describing it as part of her transition into a new stage of life. On The Jay Shetty Podcast, she talked about becoming an empty nester and navigating her 60s. “I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning, you know?” she said. “I’m 60 years old, I’ve finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact, I’m an empty nester, my girls are in—you know, they’ve been launched.”
Former President Obama addressed divorce rumors earlier in the year by sharing a birthday message to Michelle on social media, highlighting their continued public bond. When asked directly about skipping recent events, Michelle reiterated that those decisions were personal and not connected to marital issues.
“That’s the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with—disappointing people,” she said. “So much so that this year people couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself, that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing. That this couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself.”
“Where’s Barack? He made her famous and now she’s turning on him…”@walterkirn on Michelle Obama talking about joys of divorce and needing “independence” now.
Watch below, and download:https://t.co/F96HgI8fyu pic.twitter.com/AZHbjbsGIO
— The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) May 12, 2025
The Obamas, who have been married for 32 years, remain prominent public figures. Their latest appearance in New York has renewed public interest, but also served as a reminder of the personal decisions public figures must navigate while in the spotlight.
