After Startling Marriage Confession, Barack and Michelle Obama Arrive Separately on Spielberg’s Yacht.
Barack and Michelle Obama dispelled months of speculation about their marriage by embarking on a rare, lavish getaway together.
The former first couple appeared to silence divorce rumors as they enjoyed the sun in Portofino, Italy, aboard their friend Steven Spielberg’s $250 million superyacht over the weekend.
Though united on vacation, they made separate arrivals, with photographers first capturing Michelle, 61, boarding the 357-foot vessel via tender ahead of her husband. She kept it casual in baggy jeans, a matching denim button-down layered over a white tank, and brown-and-silver Birkenstocks.
Spielberg, 78, welcomed her with open arms before sharing a warm hug.
He and Michelle were later spotted on the deck of his superyacht, Seven Seas, cheerfully chatting alongside a woman believed to be his wife, Kate Capshaw, 71.
Barack, 64, arrived afterward in the scenic Italian seaside village, appearing more reserved as he stepped ashore with his security detail.
He kept it casual in a brown top and white cap.
The morning after Barack joined Michelle on the yacht, the group enjoyed breakfast on deck before heading ashore to Punta Chiappa for lunch. At one point, Barack—dressed in a black polo—was spotted sitting alone, focused intently on what appeared to be a tablet or laptop.
Their getaway comes just days after the former president made a surprising confession about his marriage. Speaking at the Jefferson Educational Society event in Erie, Pennsylvania, earlier this month, he joked that much of his post-presidency had been spent trying to win back favor with Michelle—something he admitted has been “challenging.”
“I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle,” he said. “And that’s been challenging, but I feel like I’m making progress. I’m almost breaking even at the moment.”
This trip marks the couple’s first public appearance together since their candid joint interview on Michelle’s podcast in July, where they openly discussed the state of their marriage.
“What, you two actually like each other?” Michelle’s brother and co-host, Craig Robinson, teased. Michelle laughed and replied, “Oh yeah, the rumor mill.”
Barack jumped in playfully, saying, “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”
The former first lady quipped that it was simply nice to share the same space with her husband, adding sassily to her brother, “When we aren’t, people assume we’re divorced.”
Michelle then grew more candid about their nearly 33-year marriage, declaring, “There hasn’t been a single moment when I thought about quitting my man. We’ve been through tough times, sure, but also incredible adventures. I’ve become a better person because of the man I married.”
Barack admitted he’d missed much of the speculation, saying he was largely unaware of the chatter surrounding them.
At one point during the trip, Spielberg was seen lounging on a chair, casually scrolling through his phone.
Barack admitted that he often misses the chatter around him, saying, “These are the kinds of things I just don’t catch. I don’t even realize this stuff is happening. Then someone brings it up and I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
The Obamas, married for nearly 33 years, share two daughters—Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24. Speculation about their relationship first gained traction after Michelle was absent from several high-profile events, including Donald Trump’s inauguration and former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
