Michelle and Barack Obama have responded to swirling rumors about their relationship by sharing a heartfelt photo of themselves clasping hands.
The former president shared the image accompanied by a warm tribute on Instagram in honor of his wife’s 61st birthday this past Friday.
In the snapshot, the couple is seen holding hands across a table that appears to be set in a wine cellar adorned with shelves of bottles.
In his caption, Obama expressed: “Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama. You bring warmth, wisdom, humor, and elegance to every space – and you make it look effortless. I’m incredibly fortunate to navigate life’s journeys with you. Love you!”
The post quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of loving comments, with one admirer suggesting: “Pres. Obama, with all due love and respect, I suggest you whisk Michelle away for a refreshing, well-deserved getaway this weekend and don’t return until, say, Tuesday.”
This comment subtly implied that the couple should avoid attending Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
In response, Michelle re-shared the photo with a more succinct message, simply stating, “Love you, honey!” accompanied by a heart and a kiss emoji.
Rumors about their relationship emerged after Michelle Obama deviated from tradition and announced she would not attend Trump’s inauguration alongside her husband.
Speculation arose that their 32-year marriage might be in jeopardy due to their lack of public appearances together lately. Observers noted that while the former first lady may not have been eager to support a second Trump administration, she also missed Jimmy Carter’s funeral on January 9, citing a “scheduling conflict.”
According to reports, the pair was last publicly seen together at a dinner in Los Angeles around mid-December.
Prior to that, actress Jennifer Aniston, 55, had to publicly refute a highly inaccurate claim in a gossip magazine suggesting she was romantically involved with the 44th president, leading to feelings of betrayal for Michelle.
“I’ve met him once,” the former Friends star shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “I know Michelle better than I know him.”
“Among the many calls you receive from your publicist, where you’re bracing for, ‘Oh no, what now?’ due to some tabloid fabricating a narrative, this was the outcome. I couldn’t even be upset about it,” she chuckled.
Last year, on Michelle’s milestone 60th birthday, Barack Obama shared a picture of his wife wearing a stunning yellow dress against a lovely ocean backdrop. He wrote: “Happy birthday to my better half — who also happens to be one of the brightest, wittiest, and most beautiful individuals I know. @MichelleObama, you enhance every single day. I can’t wait to see what this new decade holds for you.”
The two-term former president is a fan of wine. In 2017, a Spanish wine known as Pezo do Rei Ribeira Sacra saw a surge in demand after he featured it at a gala in Washington D.C. celebrating the Hispanic community in the U.S. The wine became popularly dubbed “Obama’s wine.”
