Moments that sparked those Obama affair rumours: The star-studded fundraiser where Barack met Jennifer Aniston and the beaming selfie with glamorous Danish PM (next to furious-looking Michelle) - as former First Lady skips Trump inauguration
The Obamas have faced affair rumours since they first entered the spotlight in the early 2000s - with scrutiny of their marriage following them throughout the former presidents two terms in office and beyond.
The Obamas have faced affair rumours since they first entered the spotlight in the early 2000s - with scrutiny of their marriage following them throughout the former presidents two terms in office and beyond.
In 2013, the National Enquirer speculated that their then-more than 20-year marriage had been dissolved after a string of fights that were prompted by accusations of infidelity and a beaming selfie President Obama took with the Danish Prime Minister.
Pictures of Barack taking the selfie with Helle Thorning-Schmidt - as Michelle looks on, less than impressed - took the internet by storm, with claims that the Obamas even switched seats to separate the two world leaders.
There will be no photo opportunity for the Obamas on Monday however, with Michelle breaking protocol by skipping Donald Trumps inauguration - just days after her husband put on a friendly display with the Republican.
A source reportedly said that the former First Lady refuses to be fake about her loyalties - in stark contrast to her husbands recent efforts to unify.
There has been no official explanation for her absence, sparking speculation online that there might be some other explanation as to why shes not appearing alongside her husband.
It is just the latest in a series of sensational rumours about the Obamas marriage.
Pictures of Barack taking the selfie with Helle Thorning-Schmidt - as Michelle looks on, less than impressed - took the internet by storm in 2013
Jennifer Aniston is seen with Michelle Obama at a Hollywood fundraiser for Barack Obamas presidential campaign in 2007
The couple - who met in college - celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary in October
Jimmy Kimmel presented the Hollywood actress with the magazine which made allegations about her and the former pPresident
With current rumours, on Friday, the former President shared a picture of him and his wife sat at a dinner table holding hands with the caption: Happy birthday to the love of my life @MichelleObama. You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace – and you look good doing it. I’m so lucky to be able to take on lifes adventures with you. Love you!
These may have been to put out any hearsay that the relationship is in a rocky state.
Late last year, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston, 55, was romantically linked to Mr Obama, 63, in a baseless story published in a gossip magazine - the front page of which declared it contained the truth about Jen & Barack.
This was compounded by the hosts of a popular pop culture podcast – Who? Weekly – who claimed, without evidence, that the couple were living separate lives while he and Aniston were having a full-blown affair.
The Hollywood A-lister strongly denied the claims during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October.
Of all the calls you get from your publicist where youre just like Oh, no, whats it gonna be? or you get an email saying some cheesy tabloid is gonna make up a story - and then its that…
I was not mad at it, she then added with a giggle, before clarifying that the story is absolutely untrue.
With current rumours, on Friday, the former President shared a picture of him and his wife sat at a dinner table holding hands in a birthday post
So, the truth about Jen and Barack is that theres no truth? Jimmy confirmed.
Jennifer continued: Ive met him [Obama] once. I know Michelle more than him.
In a jokey tone, Jimmy then asked: Is there a truth about you and Michelle?
That is not true, she said with a smile.
In 2007, a star-studded Hollywood gala in honour of the then-budding young senator is thought to have been the first - and only time - Aniston met Barack Obama.
Pictures taken at the event show her smiling with her arm around Michelle Obamas waist, as the future First Lady beams for the camera and Morgan Freeman and other A-listers enjoy the party behind them.
The event was organised by tinsel town big wigs Steven Spielberg and his DreamWorks co-founders David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Tickets were $2,300 each - the maximum individual donation to a federal campaign - and were bought up by the likes of Tom Hanks, Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington, according to the New York Times.
Jennifer addressed the rumor on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where she said it was absolutely untrue
The duo cleared up any speculation surrounding the story during Wednesdays episode
With the rich and famous signing cheques as they drank with the Obamas and their staff, the event was reported to have brought in at least $1million in what was the first major event of the Democrats presidential campaign.
A VIP group of attendees - those who had at least 20 tickets to their name - were invited to privately dine with the Obamas at Gethens mansion after the event. It is unclear if Aniston was among them.
Fast forward to Obamas first term in office and he and Michelle became one of the most scrutinized couples in the world, with their every move watched and pictured.
In late 2013, the National Enquirer claimed the Obamas marriage had dissolved after Michelle discovered his Secret Service bodyguards were covering up for his infidelity.
They were endlessly fighting, the tabloid cited anonymous sources as saying, after he posed for a selfie with Denmarks married leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt, at a memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
Mrs Obama was photographed sitting on his other side looking less than amused as her husband and Thorning-Schmidt shared a joke and he patted her on the shoulder.
The First Lady, the Enquirer claimed, would stand by her husband until his presidency ended.
But more than a decade on this has not come to pass, and the couple have continued the public declarations and displays of love for one another which have gained them a huge fanbase.
The pair – who met as young lawyers working for the same Chicago firm in 1989 – celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary in October and delighted their army of fans by sharing a photo of them hugging each other at a museum in New York.
I couldnt have asked for a better partner and friend to go through life with, said Mr Obama in a message accompanying the photo.
She echoed the sentiment, saying: 32 action-packed years with my honey! Through it all, thank you for always having my back, being by my side, and finding ways to make me smile. I love you, @Barack Obama.
Like any marriage however, it has not been all smooth sailing, as the Obamas themselves have been happy to admit.
Michelle famously said in a 2022 panel discussion that for a decade – when their daughters Malia and Sasha were young – that she hated her husband during a large part of their marriage.
The former president and his wife tied the knot at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago on October 3, 1992
‘People think I’m being catty – it’s like, there were ten years where I couldn’t stand my husband.
In 2023, Mr Obama also tackled the subject of marriage difficulties in an interview with CBS, and was asked about Michelle’s remarks the previous year. ‘Let me just say this: it sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her,’ he said.
The ex-First Lady, who has continued to carry out the duties expected of her as a former presidents wife since Obama left office, was noticeably absent from Jimmy Carters funeral, where her husband was seen laughing and cozying up to Trump.
Trump sat side by side with Obama, and later revealed they get along despite their differences and their past attacks on one another.
It did look very friendly, I must say, Trump later said.
But according to a source who spoke to Page Six, Michelle has no such plans to smooth over her relationship with Trump - putting her at odds with her husbands friendly efforts.
Former US President Barack Obama and former US First Lady Michelle Obama attend the unveiling of their portraits at the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, February 12, 2018
Historically, this would be seen as a monumental snub given all former presidents and first ladies have attended inauguration - even for the president of the opposite party - unless they were suffering from health issues.
Trump and his wife Melania were the first to blow up the modern tradition of attending successors inaugurations when he refused to come to Joe Bidens four years ago.
When Mrs Obama missed Carters funeral, it was immediately cleared up that she had a scheduling conflict which prevented her from attending. She was enjoying an extended holiday in Hawaii at the time.
When they first had children, the couple had some fights, as Barack would commute on a six-hour round trip to work at the Illinois Senate, and sometimes spend days away due to his job
But on this occasion, her office has made no such effort to explain away her absense.
She previously admitted that she found it difficult to sit through Trumps first swearing-in ceremony in 2017, saying she later broke down in tears.
Shes never been fake and shes never been phony. Shes always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up, a source said of her decision to miss this one.
They went on: She showed up reluctantly for the election. They were united, but she doesnt have to unify around [Trump]. She doesnt have to say anything.
Her absence speaks volumes.