Barack Obama never hesitates to open up. The former President of the United States, who has already unveiled the first volume of his memoirs, A Promised Land, did not hesitate to confide at greater length in an interview with People. Donald Trump's predecessor explains how his term in office weakened his relationship with Michelle Obama, who has been his wife for 28 years.
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Barack Obama felt 'lonely'
While they might have seemed like the perfect couple, the reality was different. Barack Obama confessed to having felt ‘lonely.’ There were nights when, lying next to Michelle in the dark, I’d think about those days when everything between us felt lighter,’ he revealed, and when her smile was more ‘constant.’ Michelle Obama, although she ‘very much believed in [her husband’s] work,’ blamed him for some of the ‘sacrifices to the family’ for the sake of his duties as president. The First Lady also found it difficult to deal with the ‘pressure’ and ‘stress.’
Barack Obama writes:
There were times when I think she was frustrated or sad or angry but knew that I had Afghanistan or the financial crisis to worry about.
‘Our children emerged intact’
He is now happy to see that his relationship has come out stronger from all this, as well as his two daughters. Obama says:
There were great joys in the White House. There was never a time when we didn't recognise what an extraordinary privilege it was to be there. Most importantly, our children emerged intact and they are wonderful, kind, thoughtful, creative. So that’s a big sigh of relief.
After he left the White House, Barack Obama talked a lot with his wife to get a fresh start. ‘It took some time to talk about how she had felt,’ he said from their new £9 million mansion.