NEW YORK, April 10: In a recent podcast interview, former First Lady Michelle Obama addressed rumors surrounding her marriage to former President Barack Obama and offered insight into her absence at key events, including President Trump’s inauguration. This marked one of her rare public comments about her personal life.

Speculation about the Obamas' relationship was fueled by Mrs. Obama’s absence from two significant January events—former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and President Trump’s inauguration. While her absence from Mr. Carter's funeral was explained as a scheduling conflict, no official reason was given for her absence at the inauguration.

On the podcast “Work in Progress,” hosted by actress Sophia Bush, Mrs. Obama offered an explanation for her choices, revealing that she was prioritizing herself. She reflected on her decision not to attend the inauguration, saying, “I chose to do what’s best for me, not what I had to do,” signaling a shift in her approach to decision-making.

Acknowledging the rumors about her marriage, Mrs. Obama noted how society often assumes the worst, speculating about her relationship with her husband. She explained, “People couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself, that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing. This couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself.”

While she didn’t explicitly address the rumors or mention President Trump by name, Mrs. Obama hinted at her past tensions with him, especially regarding the false birther claims he promoted about her husband.

The former First Lady emphasized that, now that her daughters are adults and she no longer lives in the White House, she is focusing on asking herself difficult questions about her future. "Now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions of, ‘Who do I truly want to be every day?’” she shared.

In a broader reflection, Mrs. Obama concluded the conversation by discussing the importance of making personal decisions and realizing what she can control. "I learned that I can really only control me,” she said, underlining her growth since leaving the White House.