Is Michelle Obama throwing subtle shade at her husband, Barack? That’s the question swirling around social media again after her eyebrow-raising comments during the latest episode of her struggling podcast IMO. While the former first lady insists all is well in Obama World, her tone and content seem to hint otherwise—especially when it comes to the topic of raising boys.
The moment came when radio host Angie Martinez jokingly asked Michelle why she and Barack never had a third child, preferably a son. Michelle’s response? “I’m so glad I didn’t have a boy.”
That was followed up with an even more telling quip: “Because he would’ve been a Barack Obama.”
Laughter followed, but the awkward kind—the kind where everyone knows there’s more beneath the surface.
While Michelle went on to clarify that her hypothetical son would’ve struggled under the weight of trying to live up to his father’s legacy, many aren’t buying that as the full story. Especially when these remarks come just months after Michelle publicly lamented the “challenges” of marriage and being married to someone “with big dreams.” Translation: life with Barack wasn’t always sunshine and Nobel Peace Prizes.
And now, with whispers of marital friction dating back at least a year, these new comments are reigniting speculation that things in the Obama household may not be as picture-perfect as they seem.
The Obamas married in 1992 and have two daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24. While the pair have always presented a united front, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Michelle, who is now 61, is carving out her own post-White House identity—and she isn’t afraid to toss in a few sarcastic jabs along the way.
Meanwhile, her podcast IMO has gotten off to a lackluster start. With just a few thousand listeners in its first 24 hours, the debut episode was widely panned as boring and shallow. Critics called it “unengaging,” with one reviewer writing, “This couldn’t be any less entertaining.”
It’s a far cry from the glitzy media blitz that usually follows the Obamas. And as Michelle subtly distances herself from Barack, both in tone and content, don’t be surprised if those persistent 2024 rumors heat up again—only this time, the name on the ticket might not be “Obama-Biden,” but just “Obama.” As in, Michelle.