Barack and Michelle Obama are celebrating the grand opening of The Obama Presidential Center on June 19, 2026. Ahead of the launch, the couple sat down for an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America.
During the conversation, Barack shared an insight into the life his wife would have preferred for them to have. "How have you been able to find that balance?" Robin asked the former President of the United States. "You pick and choose your spots, not suggesting I've done it perfectly," replied Barack. "My goal was to look at the example of our first president, George Washington. He kind of said, 'All right, I've done my stint. And now I'm going, you know, back home.'"
Barack continued: "I think Michelle, you know, very much would prefer a quieter life for us. And on the other hand, there've been some folks who would like to see me out every day, right, banging the drum. What I've tried to do is to move from player to coach. Part of our foundation mission here is how do we encourage the next generation of leadership."
© ABCMeanwhile, Michelle remained silent as her husband spoke, offering him only a subtle smile. Barack and Michelle first met in June 1989, when the former joined the law firm Sidley & Austin. Michelle, then Michelle Robinson, was his senior adviser for his first three months, and declined his initial offers to date. In July 1991, nearly two years later, Barack proposed after passing the bar exam. On October 3, 1992, they tied the knot in front of loved ones at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
The couple welcomed their eldest daughter Malia in July 1998 and their second child, Sasha, in June 2001.
© Getty ImagesBarack and Michelle's appearance on GMA marked their first joint network TV interview since leaving office in 2017. "People are a little discouraged right now," said Barack to the ABC host. "But, again, I believe that we go through these cycles, and there's going to be a younger generation that pops up and there are going to be leaders who pop up."
© InstagramThe Obama Presidential Center's campus boasts 19 acres in Chicago’s Jackson Park, a stone's throw from the University of Chicago. It features 3.7 acres of parkland, offices for the Obama Foundation, an auditorium for public events, public art and athletic facilities, and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library. It has accumulated a cost of approximately $850 million.
