By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-24 12:33:24 | Updated at 2025-01-24 19:53:09
7 hours ago
President Obama was spotted arriving alone to a ritzy new Washington restaurant before he attended Trump's second inauguration without wife Michelle.
Obama, 63, was met with cheers and applause from onlookers as he arrived at the DC hotspot Osteria Mozza on Saturday.
However, the grinning ex-president appeared un-phased by the absence of his wife of 32 years who also unceremoniously skipped President Carter's funeral - amid rumors of divorce.
Indeed, Michelle's no-show from both events comes as a wild flurry of speculation in Hollywood and DC of a blockbuster affair between the charismatic former commander-in-chief and Friends star Jennifer Aniston.
Aniston, 55, was first romantically linked to Obama last year in a story published in a downmarket supermarket magazine - the front page of which declared it contained 'the truth about Jen & Barack'.
This was compounded by the hosts of a popular pop culture podcast – Who? Weekly – who claimed, without giving any evidence, that the Obamas were 'living separate lives' while he and Aniston were having a full-blown affair.
Despite appearing to be scurrilous gossip, the iconic sitcom star appeared on US late-night television to deny the claims, giggling as she declared herself 'not mad' at the story.
This comes after reports Michelle skipped Trump's inauguration because she refuses to 'be fake' about her hatred of Trump - without mentioning Carter's funeral, but critics have suggested that her and Barack's marriage may instead be on the rocks
President Barack Obama was spotted alone at a ritzy new DC restaurant on the night before President Donald Trump's second inauguration
Obama appeared very happy as he attended a dinner party at the restaurant with a small group of Washington insiders
It comes amid wild rumors of an affair between the ex-President and beloved Friends actress Jennifer Aniston, pictured with Michelle Obama in 2007
Footage obtained by MailOnline shows Obama arriving Saturday night at Osteria Mozza, a 'California-style Italian' restaurant that opened in November last year.
Obama appeared very happy as he attended a dinner party at the restaurant with a small group of Washington insiders, including President Joe Biden's Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients.
One such source said Obama - who served two terms in the White House before handing the Oval Office over to Trump - was 'very nice' but 'didn't take photos with people.'
The restaurant, launched by Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr and California chef Nancy Silverton, has quickly become a smash hit, with A-listers including Taylor Swift and her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce having dined there.
Michelle, 61, has also eaten at the swanky restaurant, where mains cost between $34 to $175, before.
She hosted a 10-person holiday dinner for her team back in November, just two weeks after the restaurant opened in Washington DC's Georgetown neighborhood, according to Page Six.
A source had overheard the restaurant's staff even telling the former first lady she was the first person to book a private room, to which she reportedly replied: 'Well. let's christen it.'
He joined a small group of Washington insiders at Osteria Mozza for a private engagement
Footage obtained by MailOnline shows Obama arriving to the dinner party Saturday night at Osteria Mozza, a 'California-style Italian' restaurant in Georgetown, DC
But Obama, pictured at the restaurant, showed no signs of stress by the absence of his wife of 32 years, who refused to attend the inauguration after she unceremoniously skipped President Jimmy Carter's funeral
In recent weeks, Michelle skipped out on Carter's memorial service over a reported 'scheduling conflict' and declined to attend Trump's inauguration
'She’s always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up,' an insider told Page Six. 'She showed up reluctantly for the election. They were united, but she doesn’t have to unify around [Trump]. Her absence speaks volumes.'
But Michelle's absences have still fueled rumors that she is 'fed up with the political circus and pretending everything is OK with Barack all the time,' one insider said.
'I'm told she was furious at seeing her husband yukking it up with Trump at the Carter funeral' the source added.
A source who worked with the couple also admitted: 'They don’t pretend that they have this Camelot relationship. They’re not trying to present that they’re this magical couple.'
Critics have speculated that the couple may be splitting up, but Obama tried to quell those rumors by posting a gushing tribute to his wife, who he described as the 'love of his life'.
However, some suspect the post may have been an attempt to put out any hearsay that the relationship is in a rocky state.
Barack Obama tried to dispel rumors the couple's relationship was on the rocks with a gushing tribute to his wife for her birthday
Michelle unceremoniously skipped President Jimmy Carter's funeral on January 9. One of the most talked about moments from the memorial was a clear moment of affection between Trump and Obama
The Obamas have faced affair rumors since they first entered the spotlight in the early 2000s - with scrutiny of their marriage following them throughout the former president's two terms in office and beyond.
In 2013, the National Enquirer speculated that their then-more than 20-year marriage had been dissolved after a string of fights that were prompted by accusations of infidelity and a beaming selfie President Obama took with the Danish Prime Minister.
Pictures of Barack taking the selfie with Helle Thorning-Schmidt - as Michelle looks on, less than impressed - took the internet by storm, with claims that the Obamas even switched seats to separate the two world leaders.
Late last year, he was romantically linked to actress Jennifer Aniston in a baseless story published in a gossip magazine - the front page of which declared it contained 'the truth about Jen & Barack'.
This was compounded by the hosts of a popular pop culture podcast – Who? Weekly – who claimed, without evidence, that the couple were 'living separate lives' while he and Aniston were having a full-blown affair.
The Hollywood A-lister strongly denied the claims during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October.
Pictures of Barack taking the selfie with Helle Thorning-Schmidt - as Michelle looks on, less than impressed - took the internet by storm in 2013
Jimmy Kimmel presented the Hollywood actress with the magazine which made allegations about her and the former pPresident
'Of all the calls you get from your publicist where you're just like 'Oh, no, what's it gonna be?' or you get an email saying some cheesy tabloid is gonna make up a story - and then it's that…'
'I was not mad at it,' she then added with a giggle, before clarifying that the story is 'absolutely untrue'.
'So, the truth about Jen and Barack is that there's no truth?' Kimmel confirmed.
Aniston continued: 'I've met him [Obama] once. I know Michelle more than him.'
In a jokey tone, the host then asked: 'Is there a truth about you and Michelle?'
'That is not true,' she said with a smile.
In 2007, a star-studded Hollywood gala in honor of the then-budding young senator is thought to have been the first - and only time - Aniston met Barack Obama.
Pictures taken at the event show her smiling with her arm around Michelle's waist, as the future First Lady beams for the camera and Morgan Freeman and other A-listers enjoy the party behind them.
A VIP group of attendees - those who had at least 20 tickets to their name - were invited to privately dine with the Obamas after the event. It is unclear if Aniston was among them.
The former president and his wife tied the knot at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago on October 3, 1992
When they first had children, the couple had some fights, as Barack would commute on a six-hour round trip to work at the Illinois Senate, and sometimes spend days away due to his job
The Obamas have previously spoken candidly about their martial struggles, with Michelle previously describing the 'resentment' she had over having to put her career on hold to be a mother while Barack's continued to flourish.
Tensions only grew during their time in the White House - thanks to the immense 'pressure' that came with 'needing to get everything right and be "on" at every moment,' as well as Barack's focus on his work rather than his family.
But even at their worst, Obama explained to The Breakfast Club that they never let their arguments turn too ugly - and that they always 'respected' one another.
And he made it clear that even when they would fight, he never considered a divorce.
'We were pretty good even when things were tough, we never loss basic respect for the other person,' he shared. 'We never thought that person was a bad person. We never said things that would make it seem that you completely disrespect me.
'It was more, "I love you, Barack, but this is driving me crazy," or, "I respect you, but..." I think that's what kept us 'cause we never doubted each other's intentions.
'Michelle is a remarkable woman. Even if she drives me crazy sometimes, I never thought that there was anybody who I would rather be with.'
