Fanny Mazalon
01/18/2025 at 6:41 p.m.Updated on 01/18/2025 at 7:12 p.m.
Official solo outings and a lack of complicity during the couple's (rare) appearances? It didn't take much for rumors of divorce between Barack and Michelle Obama to start spreading on social networks.
Suspicions of a rift between the former President of the United States and his wife began when Barack Obama appeared alone at the Washington National Cathedral for the last tribute to Jimmy Carter on January 9. An insignificant detail for some, but in reality, it is the first time since 2008 that the couple does not appear side by side for this type of official event.
American journalist Jeff Zeleny of the “CNN” news channel reported the same day that the former first lady was “still in Hawaii on an extended vacation” and that a scheduling conflict had prevented her from visiting at the ceremony.
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The rumors grew even more when the couple's spokesperson confirmed to the media “People” on Tuesday, January 14, the absence of Michelle Obama at the inauguration of Donald Trump, on January 20. Should we see this as a political choice on the part of the woman who fervently supported candidate Kamala Harris during the last elections?
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“No active sign of unity” between the two spouses
According to the numerous reactions of American Internet users on X, these absences are quite simply a sign of a very imminent divorce between Barack and Michelle Obama. The “Daily Mail” conducted a pseudo-investigation with the help of Judi James, a body language expert asked to analyze the couple's last public outing, in Los Angeles last December.
In the columns of the British media, the so-called specialist relied on the photos taken by the paparazzi: “There is no sign in this image of any conversation or any complicity between them. » She also noted the lack of “active sign of unity”, no hand in hand or gesture of affection in front of the cameras.
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Barack strikes back
This Friday, January 17, in the middle of this media excitement, Barack Obama in turn published a message on his X profile to wish Michelle a happy birthday. A response to the rumors? Maybe. In the photo chosen to illustrate their wishes, we can see the couple all smiles, sitting at the table and holding hands.
In the caption, the former President of the United States chose particularly sweet words to speak of his wife: “Happy birthday to the love of my life, Michelle Obama. You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor and grace – and you look stunning doing it. I am so lucky to be able to experience life's adventures with you. I love you ! » Enough to silence (at least for a few days) the noise about their hypothetical breakup.
