Barack and Michelle Obama displayed a rare moment of togetherness by embarking on a luxurious vacation together, amidst ongoing speculation regarding their marriage.
The couple appeared to dispel the prevailing divorce rumors as they enjoyed the sunshine in Portofino, Italy, on their friend Steven Spielberg’s $250 million superyacht over the weekend.
Interestingly, they arrived separately, with photographers capturing Michelle, 61, boarding the lavish 357-foot vessel via a tender prior to her husband’s arrival.
She donned some baggy jeans, a matching denim button-down top, with a white tank top underneath, and some brown and silver Birkenstocks.
Spielberg, 78, greeted her with his arms open wide before he gave her a warm hug.
The Obamas were then observed on the deck of the superyacht, named the Seven Seas, engaged in a pleasant conversation alongside a woman who appeared to be Spielberg’s wife, Kate Capshaw, 71.
Later on, Barack, 64, appeared somber as he arrived in the picturesque Italian seaside village alongside some security.
Michelle Obama arrives on Steven Spielberg’s yacht in Portofino, Italy, ahead of her husband
Later on, Barack Obama, 64, arrives in the picturesque Italian seaside village with security
He was dressed casually in a brown top and white cap.
The morning after Barack joined his wife on the yacht, the group enjoyed breakfast on the deck, before they headed ashore to Punta Chiappa for lunch.
At one point, Barack – who wore a black polo shirt – was pictured sitting alone staring intently at what appeared to be a tablet or laptop.
Their vacation comes days after the former president made a startling marriage confession.
Earlier this month, at the Jefferson Educational Society event in Erie, Pennsylvania, Barack humorously mentioned that much of his post-presidential life has involved trying to keep his wife happy, labeling it a ‘challenge.’
‘I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle,’ he said.
‘And that’s been challenging, but I feel like I’m making progress. I’m almost breaking even at the moment.’
This outing marks the first occasion the couple has been publicly seen together since they participated in an eye-opening joint interview on Michelle’s podcast in July, where they openly discussed the condition of their marriage.
Spielberg’s $250million superyacht, where the couple were vacationing over the weekend
A solo Michelle, 61, boards the luxurious 357-foot boat via a tender
She wears baggy jeans, a matching denim button-down top and some brown Birkenstocks
Michelle accessorized with a black backpack and dark shades with her hair in a ponytail
Spielberg, 78, greeted her with his arms open wide before he gave her a warm hug
The two were then seen sitting on the boat, called the Seven Seas, chatting happily together, along with a woman who appeared to be his wife, Kate Capshaw
Michelle is all smiles, while her husband appeared somber when he arrived after her
At one point Michelle excitedly raises her arms up into the air
‘What, you guys like each other?’ Michelle’s brother and co-host Craig Robinson joked, before Michelle replied: ‘Oh yeah, the rumor mill.’
‘She took me back!’ Barack light-heartedly chimed in, adding: ‘It was touch and go for awhile.’
The former first lady said it was nice to be in the same room as her husband, sassily telling her brother: ‘When we aren’t, folks think we’re divorced.’
Michelle then made an admission about her relationship with her husband of almost 33 years.
‘There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,’ she said passionately.
‘And we’ve had some really hard times. So we had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I’m married to.’
Barack admitted he missed a lot of the speculation, and he was largely unaware of what people were saying.
Barack, seen here arriving in Italy, is dressed casually in a brown top and white cap
Their vacation comes days after the former president made a startling marriage confession. Barack is seen arriving in Italy solo before reuniting with his wife on Spielberg’s boat
He is alone as a tender takes him to Spielberg’s yacht, where his wife is already aboard
The morning after Barack joined Michelle and Spielberg on the yacht, the group enjoy breakfast on the deck, before they head ashore to Punta Chiappa for lunch
Barack and Michelle sitting opposite Spielberg and Capshaw during the outing
At one point, Barack – who wears a black polo shirt – sits alone staring intently at what appeared to be a tablet or laptop
The former president sips from a glass as he sits by himself
Spielberg lays on a lounge chair scrolling on his phone at one point during the trip
‘These are the kinds of things that I just miss, right? So I don’t even know this stuff’s going on,’ he confessed.
‘And then somebody will mention it to me and I’m all like, ‘what are you talking about?”
The Obamas have been married for almost 33 years and share daughters, Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24.
Rumors surrounding the Obamas’ relationship began when Michelle skipped several high-profile events, including Donald Trump’s inauguration and former president Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
