Meghan McCain and a Washington insider opened up about Barack and Michelle Obama's relationship amid unconfirmed rumors that the former first couple is divorcing.
Speculation about their relationship status has been running high in recent weeks, coming to a head when Michelle skipped both the inauguration and Jimmy Carter's funeral, which Barack was attending.
Speaking to Puck reporter Tara Palmieri on her podcast, McCain said she heard rumors of a split.
“I've heard this rumor that the Obamas are getting divorced, from reputable people. I'm not talking about TMZ. “I'm not talking about Perez Hilton…I'm talking about very serious journalists who tell me they hear the Obama divorce rumors are true.”
Palmieri himself dropped a bombshell, saying, “We've been hearing that for a long time, like I just heard they're living separate lives.”
The pair then gossiped about the photo Barack posted before the weekend in honor of Michelle's birthday.
“Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama,” he wrote, alongside a photo of them holding hands as they enjoyed dinner.
McCain and Pamieri were unconvinced and mostly shocked by the photo quality.
Meghan McCain and a Washington insider opened up about Barack and Michelle Obama's relationship amid rumors the former first couple is divorcing
Speaking to Puck reporter Tara Palmieri on her podcast, McCain said she heard rumors of a split
“I would kill Ben if he put a picture of me without makeup and with that light on social media,” the former co-host of The View said, referring to her husband, Ben Domenech.
'I would kill him. So for me it didn't help the rumors, and why are you putting up this sexy picture of your wife?'
Palmieri noted that now that the Obamas are no longer active in politics, this is an opportunity to completely abandon Washington.
'I don't feel at home with them, but that's not really surprising at this stage of their lives and she clearly has very little interest – she's always hated politics! She didn't really enjoy being First Lady.”
The image showed a smiling Barack in a gray button-up shirt and black slacks as he sat across from Michelle, who wore a dark V-neck sweater dress and a patterned headpiece.
They took each other's hands lovingly as they looked at the camera.
Michelle has since shared the post to her own account, along with a simple caption: “I love you sweetheart!”
Michelle – who turned 61 last week – did not attend former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on January 9 due to a 'scheduling conflict.'
Barack Obama squashed divorce rumors as he posted a gushing tribute to the 'love of his life' Michelle Obama on Friday in honor of her 61st birthday
The former president, 63, proved they're still going strong when he uploaded a sweet message to his wife for her birthday
Michelle has since shared the post to her own account, along with a simple caption: “I love you sweetheart!”
Furthermore, it was revealed that she would not be present Donald Trump'S opening ceremony with her husband on Monday.
Barack and Michelle Obama's office told the Associated Press in a statement this week: “It has been confirmed that former President Barack Obama will attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremony.” Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration.”
Immediately after the announcement, fans of the political power couple worried that there might be trouble in paradise.
However, there were some who dismissed the rumor and instead suggested that Michelle was just making a political statement.
The last time the couple was seen together was in early December, just over a month ago, when they went out for dinner in Los Angeles.
Last October, actress Jennifer Aniston publicly dismissed an American tabloid's “absolutely untrue” claims that she and Barack were in a relationship, leaving Michelle feeling “betrayed.”
The rumor was exacerbated by the hosts of a popular pop culture podcast Who? Weekly, which claimed the Obamas were “living separate lives” while he and Jennifer were having a full-blown affair.
The Friends star told a US TV show host: 'I met him once. I know Michelle better than he does.'
The former first lady was also noticeably absent from former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on January 9 due to a 'scheduling conflict'
The couple, who first met in 1989 when they both worked at a law firm in Chicago, married in 1992.
They welcomed their first daughter, Malia, six years later in 1998, and their second daughter, Sasha, in 2001.
Over the years, the couple have spoken candidly about their martial struggles, with Michelle previously describing the “resentment” she had at having to pause her career to become a mother while Barack's continued to thrive.
And tensions only increased during their time in the White House – thanks to the enormous “pressure” that came with “the need to do everything right and be 'on' at all times,” and Barack's focus on his job instead of his family. .
But even at their worst, Barack explained to The Breakfast Club that they never let their arguments get too ugly — and that they always “respected” each other.
And he made it clear that even if they argued, he never considered divorce.
“We were quite good, even when it was difficult, we never lost the basic respect for the other,” he said.
“We never thought that person was a bad person. We've never said anything that makes it seem like you don't respect me at all.
“It was more, 'I love you, Barack, but this is driving me crazy,' or, 'I respect you, but…' I think that held us back because we never doubted each other's intentions.”
'Michelle is a special woman. Even though she drives me crazy sometimes, I never thought there was anyone I'd rather be with.”
