Rumors have recently circulated on social media about a troubled marriage and impending divorce for former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

That wild speculation may have been ended by a social media post on Friday in which Barack wished Michelle a happy birthday and the latter replied to the former with expressions of love, Fox News reported.

The rumors of problems with their relationship surged in recent days in part because of Michelle's noticeable absence from the late former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral last week and her announced plans to skip President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday -- both of which Barack did and will attend.

A birthday wish

Around noon on Friday, former President Obama posted a picture of himself and the former first lady sitting opposite each other and holding hands across a large dining table in a room with dozens of wine bottles lining the walls behind them.

"Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama," Barack wrote to caption the photo. "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 life's adventures with you. Love you!"

Michelle shared Barack's post just a short while later and added in a caption of her own, "Love you, honey!" with a red heart emoji and the blowing a kiss emoji.

Love you, honey! ❤️😘 https://t.co/fiQaCYmQ02

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) January 17, 2025

Rumors squashed by shared photo?

New York magazine's Intelligencer reported that the social media posts from the former first couple should put an end to the swirling rumors about a troubled marriage and impending divorce for the pair.

The outlet suggested there was "pretty much no evidence" that Michelle was avoiding Barack, that Barack was having an affair with a Hollywood celebrity, or that the married couple of 32 years were "separated, or maybe even headed for divorce."

It went on to posit that "the Obamas have (sort of) addressed the rumors" with the social media posts and concluded, "So there you have it: Clearly the Obamas are still very much in love … or very committed to this elaborate conspiracy to needlessly lie about their relationship status!"

A perusal of the reply comments to both Barack and Michelle's posts reveals that not everybody is buying the notion that all is well for the Obamas, however, as many commenters critically picked apart the photo's details and continued to speculate on supposed evidence that their love was strained at best, if not gone completely.

Hatred for Trump the reason for Michelle's absence?

As noted, the rumors of troubles for the Obamas stem in part from Michelle's absence from Carter's funeral, which Barack attended and was seated next to Trump, and her announced plan to not attend Trump's inauguration, which Barack will reportedly be at.

An unnamed inside source told People magazine of Michelle and her absences, "There's no overstating her feelings about [Trump]. She's not one to plaster on a pleasant face and pretend for protocol's sake. Michelle doesn't do anything because it's expected or it's protocol or it's tradition."

"She served in the public eye and did all the public good that she could for eight years as first lady," the source added. "You'll see her when she has a project or cause to promote but she doesn't feel the need to be a public figure anymore."