Michelle, now 62, stepped onto the stage in a light brown pencil skirt that featured a beautiful portrait of her late mother, Marian Robinson. It was a heartfelt tribute to the woman who had passed away in 2024 at the age of 86. The skirt had been custom made with help from Michelle’s longtime stylist, Meredith Koop.

In her speech, Michelle explained how much it meant to her. She said she was so proud of her husband and noticed right away that he was really affected by it. She gave him a moment because this skirt, with her favorite portrait of her mom on it, was something he had not seen until just minutes before.

Michelle gently placed her hand on Barack as he wiped away tears. She went on to say that she had spent a few weeks getting used to how special the skirt was, but it was hitting him hard for a very good reason. She added that her mom, Marian, would have been so proud of him as a son-in-law and the wonderful man he had always been to their family. Marian loved how he dreamed big and always found a way to make those dreams happen, especially for the South Side of Chicago. Michelle ended with a simple “I love you.”

While Michelle had known about the skirt for weeks, the moment Barack saw it in person during the event was the first time for him, and it clearly touched him deeply. He shared that he felt a little shaken because he loved his mother-in-law so much.

Marian Robinson had been known as America’s “first grandmother” during the Obama years. She played a big part in raising Malia and Sasha, and even when the family lived in the White House, she chose to stay out of the spotlight and focus on what mattered most to her, her loved ones.

Photos from the event quickly spread across social media, with many people praising the thoughtful gesture and the emotional reaction it brought out.

Credit: Getty Images, Youtube/Forbes

One person wrote that the skirt with her mom’s portrait made them cry and called it so lovely. Another described it as a masterpiece and said Michelle’s mother looked beautiful. A third simply called it one of a kind and beautiful.0

Of course, not everyone online agreed, with some commenting on body language or a kiss in the pictures, but others quickly defended the couple and highlighted how much love and care was there. It was a reminder of the strong bond the Obamas share and the lasting impact of family.

Just before the action kicked off, screenshots of what appeared to be private messages between Eric Trump and former UFC champion Daniel Cormier started making the rounds on social media.

In those alleged exchanges, Eric seemed to be inquiring about fighter injuries and even asking if any of the bouts might be rigged. One message reportedly said something like he was eyeing the Diego Lopes fight and thought an upset could be a good betting opportunity.

Cormier supposedly pushed back hard, saying none of the fights were fixed and that he was shocked anyone would even ask. Soon after, he shared the screenshots on his X account with a note about not staying silent on anything that could hurt the sport he loves. The posts spread like wildfire, sparking heated discussions among UFC fans and political watchers alike.

Eric Trump quickly fired back, calling the whole thing completely fake and insisting the screenshots were made with artificial intelligence. He said he had never reached out to Cormier at all and described it as scary how easily this kind of misinformation can circulate. He also pointed out that Cormier later deleted the post, which he took as confirmation it wasn’t real.

Things got even murkier when Cormier seemed to step back from the viral claims. He posted something that left people wondering if his account had been hacked or if the images were fabricated from the beginning. A few MMA journalists said they caught the original post before it vanished, which only added more fuel to the speculation.

At this point, there is no solid evidence that the messages were genuine. Both Eric Trump and Daniel Cormier have publicly denied their authenticity, yet the story has become one of the biggest talking points around the star-studded UFC event, leaving fans split and hunting for the truth.

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who once served as a cardiologist for the late Vice President Dick Cheney, appeared on CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper. He didn’t hold back when discussing what he sees as the president’s noticeable sleepiness. According to Reiner, it’s not exactly a mystery why this keeps happening.

“He doesn’t sleep at night. He’s up posting on social media in the middle of the night,” Reiner explained. “But the net effect is that he’s sleepy during the day and this has a real concern.”

The doctor went on to wonder about the practical side of things. “The president is very sleepy during the day. Does his staff have to curtail the length of briefings that he has? It’s not just a vanity thing. The president falls asleep. Have they had to curtail his daily CIA briefings?”

This discussion came up as part of a larger conversation about Trump’s recent physical exam. Reports indicated that an unusually high number of specialists, 22 in total, were brought in to evaluate him. Reiner later shared on X that there are still lingering questions about that checkup, including why so many consultants were involved.

The White House has pushed back on these observations before, often brushing off footage of Trump appearing to doze as nothing more than him blinking. But for Reiner and others watching closely, the pattern points to something worth paying attention to when it comes to the demands of the job.

He reminded people that America had weathered far worse: slavery, the Civil War, the Great Depression, Jim Crow laws, and assassinations. Sure, Trump raised plenty of red flags, but Obama leaned on the idea that the country’s institutions were strong and its people resilient. The term “guardrails” came up a lot in those conversations. He figured that maybe only about fifteen percent of what his administration had built might get undone.

That steady demeanor was classic Obama. His draw came as much from his personality and even-keeled approach as from his center-left views. He saw Trump’s most vicious attacks on him, especially the birther conspiracy, as deeply racist moves that put his family in real danger. Still, he chose to push past that resentment for the sake of a smooth handover of power. It was all part of the message he was trying to deliver.

Keeping that composure wasn’t simple. During their traditional pre-inauguration meeting in the Oval Office, Obama was taken aback by how little Trump seemed to know or care about the details of governing. Trump brushed off briefings on serious threats like North Korea and Russia, instead boasting about rally crowds. Obama floated the idea of keeping key accomplishments intact, like the Affordable Care Act and the Iran nuclear deal. Trump said he’d think about it, and for a moment Obama wondered if he might actually follow through.

Afterward, Obama headed to Greece to talk up the strengths of democracy. He expressed gratitude to campaign workers and voters. These events felt draining with Trump on the horizon, so he balanced them with some joyful send-offs at the White House. Bruce Springsteen played an intimate acoustic set for the staff, dedicating a song to Barack and Michelle before closing with an uplifting tune about hope and dreams. Obama, already pondering his memoirs, hosted a lunch with writers he admired, including Zadie Smith, Junot Díaz, Barbara Kingsolver, Colson Whitehead, and Dave Eggers. Díaz later recalled how remarkably upbeat Obama seemed, full of unshakeable faith that the country would pull through.

The highlight was a lively dance party on a chilly January night. Donors, staff, and a glittering crowd of stars packed the place: Oprah Winfrey, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Paul McCartney, George Clooney, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Magic Johnson, and more. Questlove spun tunes, Stevie Wonder and Solange performed, and Michelle led everyone in the Electric Slide. As morning neared, they served chicken and waffles. Chance the Rapper captured the vibe in a late-night video, calling it historic, Black, and beautiful. Yet underneath the celebration lingered sadness. The first Black president was giving way to someone who had shown him nothing but contempt. Janelle Monáe, sweaty from dancing, joked that she had to make the most of it since she probably wouldn’t be invited back.

Years afterward, Sharon Malone, wife of former Attorney General Eric Holder, looked back on that evening as the end of an era and the last burst of joy in that White House. They were doing their best in a difficult time.

Ten days before the inauguration, Obama returned to Chicago, the city where his political journey began, for a speech addressing the roots of the country’s divisions. He pointed to growing economic inequality as fuel for the cynicism that helped Trump win. He urged people across racial and ethnic lines to listen to one another with trust and work toward a fresh social contract. “We all have to try harder,” he said, starting from the belief that fellow citizens love this country just as deeply. He vowed to stand with them as a citizen for the rest of his days.

Not long ago, I sat down with Obama to talk about the past ten years and whether recent events had tested the optimism he showed in that farewell address. He admitted honestly that they had. The way he’s chosen to spend his time, especially since Trump’s return to office, reveals a lot about how he views his ongoing responsibilities and their boundaries.

On Inauguration Day in 2017, as Trump took the oath, the Obamas watched from the reviewing stand. Michelle noticed the mostly white, male crowd around them and eventually stopped forcing a smile. She later said there was no real reflection of America’s diversity on that stage. After Trump’s grim “American carnage” speech, they flew off for a vacation in Palm Springs. On the plane, Michelle let out eight years of bottled-up pressure, sobbing as she told Barack how incredibly hard it had all been. The constant threats added to the strain; the Secret Service had recorded far more against them than previous first families.

Despite the turmoil of Trump’s win, Obama left office proud of what they had accomplished: economic recovery, saving the auto industry, the Affordable Care Act, the Paris climate agreement, marriage equality, the Iran deal, and renewed ties with Cuba. He looked forward to a more normal life. He once shared dreams of sitting unnoticed on a park bench or grabbing something from a corner store without being recognized. The loss of privacy had been one of the job’s toughest parts, but shedding the daily burdens had its upsides. He often quipped that being an ex-president might be the best gig around.

He drew lessons from past presidents who had carved out their own paths afterward, from Washington to Carter. At first, his focus was simple: rest, reconnect with Michelle, Malia, and Sasha, and step back from politics. They slept in, read, exercised, and traveled. He knew he owed his wife some balance after years of demanding service. Yet he also began pondering his next meaningful contribution.

He poured energy into the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, a hub for the Obama Foundation’s work training young leaders through grassroots efforts. It was set to open on Juneteenth. He mentored rising Democrats and hit the campaign trail during elections. The family also secured their financial future with major book deals, speaking fees, and media partnerships, building a comfortable life with homes in Chicago, Washington, Martha’s Vineyard, and Hawaii.

Some supporters grew impatient with the lavish vacations as Trump’s policies took hold, like the Muslim ban and family separations. Photos of Obama kite surfing or yachting with celebrities drew criticism from figures like John Oliver. But the travels and high-profile moments continued.

As Trump’s first term unfolded with its chaos and the January 6 events, followed by the 2024 campaign drama and his return to power, many asked the same question: Where is Obama? His early opposition to the Iraq War had defined him, yet he respected norms of restraint shown by predecessors like Bush. Trump, however, broke those traditions, never reaching out, and Obama didn’t invite him to the center’s opening.

Some former aides and Democrats voiced frustration, wishing he would speak out more forcefully like he had in powerful moments on race. They saw a need for him to rally people against threats to democracy. Yet Obama remains hugely popular, especially among Democrats and young people, even as opinions differ on whether he should be the party’s central figure now.

In conversations, Obama explained his careful approach. Constantly firing back at every Trump controversy would turn him into just another commentator, losing the weight of his voice when it truly matters. He points out that he stays active behind the scenes: campaigning, fundraising, creating content that reaches new audiences through Netflix, podcasts, and influencers. Clips from casual talks with young creators often land bigger than traditional speeches.

He feels the pull from supporters but also the tension it creates at home, as Michelle hopes for more downtime together. Still, he sees the calls for more involvement as a positive sign that core American values haven’t fully shifted. He remains optimistic about the country’s direction underneath the noise, believing progress on issues like equality and rights endures.

Obama has had occasional personal encounters with Trump, including at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, but the public barbs continue. He brushes off most of it personally but draws the line at attacks on his family or reckless talk that treats serious matters lightly.

The center itself stands as a major achievement, a vibrant campus on Chicago’s South Side reflecting his community organizing roots. It includes spaces for learning, reflection, and leadership training, with programs like My Brother’s Keeper supporting young people of color. Obama sees long-term impact in nurturing the next generation of changemakers.

Through Higher Ground Productions, he and Michelle create storytelling projects that promote values of diversity, resilience, and understanding, from documentaries to series highlighting everyday American lives.

On global issues, Obama worries about damaged alliances and the need for thoughtful leadership on challenges like AI, climate, and international stability. He stresses leading by example and upholding dignity rather than dominance.

Overall, Obama rejects the notion that Trump’s successes erase his own legacy. He believes a majority still aligns with the progress they fought for and continues searching for the most effective way to contribute as a former president in unprecedented times. His blend of reflection, action, and restraint defines how he’s navigating this chapter.

One part that really stands out is her take on a short but awkward car ride they had together on the way to the Capitol during Donald Trump’s second inauguration.

Jill described how the conversation felt forced from the start. She tried asking about Barron and how his studies were going at NYU. Melania gave a quick answer while staring out the window and then kept steering things back to the weather.

It was one of the only real interactions the two women ever had. Jill noted that the presidents probably had their own tense ride too but at least they knew each other better from all those debates and meetings.

The book also touches on how the relationship soured even more after the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago. Jill said she felt some sympathy for Melania because her own home in Delaware had gone through a similar search. She mentioned how unsettling it is to have agents going through personal things like underwear drawers.

Even before that things were not warm. Melania had skipped the usual White House tea and tour tradition before Joe Biden’s first inauguration which apparently upset Jill quite a bit.

Overall the memoir paints a picture of two women who never really clicked and kept their distance most of the time.

What do you think about their dynamic? Feel free to share your thoughts.

During a White House press briefing on Tuesday, a reporter asked Oz why the president, who is 79, continues getting examined if he’s already in such excellent shape. Oz, who is 65 and serves as the Administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, replied with a smile.

“I think because he likes the results,” he said.

“He does really well. He aces the tests every single day, and I do actually believe that he is curious to make sure everything is going in the right direction. He’s a very meticulous person in so many ways that are often underappreciated.”

Oz added that Trump is the type who wants to stay on top of the details, much like how he reaches out to people at all hours when something is weighing on his mind.

Trump has faced some questions lately about his health after appearing in public with visible bruising or other small marks that drew attention. He has explained the bruises on his hands as coming from taking a bit more aspirin than recommended, saying he likes keeping his blood thin for heart health.

There was also talk about an incident at the 2024 Republican National Convention where a high five from Pam Bondi left a small cut because of her ring.

The president has gone for multiple checkups recently, including one at Walter Reed in late May. He shared that the exam went perfectly and released some of the findings. His doctor noted the bruises were minor and linked to handshakes combined with the aspirin use.

Oz emphasized that Trump is proactive and detail oriented, which helps him stay on track with his well being.

Overall it paints a picture of a leader who values knowing exactly where he stands health wise and enjoys the positive feedback from his checkups.

Back in April, Melania called an unexpected press conference right there in the Cross Hall. She took the opportunity to shut down any talk of connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison years ago.

“I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump,” she told everyone. “Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach. To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.”

She kept going, saying she had zero knowledge of the terrible things Epstein did to his victims and insisted she was never part of any of it. “I was not a participant, was never on Epstein’s plane and never visited his private island,” Melania added. She wrapped up by calling on Congress to step up with public hearings involving the victims to finally get the whole truth out there.

President Trump came out afterward and said he had no clue his wife was planning to speak that day. He told a reporter he “didn’t know anything about” her statement in advance and insisted that she “didn’t know” Epstein at all.

Now those words are being challenged in a big way. Amanda Ungaro, who dated Paolo Zampolli for around twenty years, released a recorded conversation where she accuses him of not telling the truth about how Melania and Donald first crossed paths.

According to a story in the Daily Beast, Ungaro says it was actually Jeffrey Epstein who introduced them, and that Melania was working as an escort for him back then. In the WhatsApp audio she urges Zampolli to come clean with the public.

“Let’s tell the public you never was the one introducing Melania to Trump. It was Jeffrey Epstein, as she was escort of Jeffrey Epstein. That’s how she met Donald Trump,” she says in the recording. “And I know, because I was with you 20 years and you always told me it was not you, it was Jeffrey Epstein.”

Ungaro had shared the audio on X but the post got taken down later. She has her own history tied to Epstein’s world too. At just seventeen years old in June 2002, she flew on his famous private jet from Paris to New York with her modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

For years the two couples ran in the same circles and even got photographed together at different events at Mar-a-Lago.

All of this is coming out while Ungaro is in the middle of a tough custody fight with Zampolli. He currently works as Special Envoy for Global Partnerships in the Trump administration and sits on the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.

Zampolli pushed back hard when asked about the recording. In his statement to the Daily Beast he called the claims “a disgrace” and said he was “truly concerned for her health,” adding that she “truly needs some therapy.”

These fresh accusations are stirring up the whole Epstein conversation again and bringing new attention to the old questions about how Melania and Donald Trump actually met in the first place.

The narrow waterway between Iran, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates is incredibly important. It is basically the only way for ships to move from the Persian Gulf out to the open ocean.

Around a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade goes through there according to energy experts. Any major disruption could send shockwaves through global markets and drive up prices everywhere.

Iran blocked the route back at the end of February and things have only gotten more complicated since then. The US has been trying to work out a deal to get things flowing again but so far the talks have not gone anywhere.

Now there are reports that Iran wants more say over who uses the strait and might start requiring approvals or even some kind of fees for passage. There has even been talk about sharing control with Oman somehow.

Trump shut that idea down pretty firmly in comments he made on May 26. He made it clear that the strait needs to stay open for everyone without any single country calling the shots.

He said the United States would keep an eye on things to make sure it stays that way as part of any negotiations.

Then he turned his attention to Oman with a blunt warning. He said they would have to behave like everyone else or face serious consequences including the possibility of military action.

Some people wondered at first if he meant it that way but the State Department ended up sharing the remarks publicly which suggests it was no slip of the tongue.

On the other side Iran has set up a new authority to oversee the strait and is insisting that no ships can pass without their okay. There were quick rumors about tolls being charged but Iranian officials pushed back on that while admitting that keeping the area safe does come with real costs.

The whole situation has everyone on edge because any long term blockage could mess with oil supplies shipping routes and economies around the world.

It is a delicate moment with big stakes for energy markets and international relations. People are watching closely to see how things develop from here.

It started on Monday night and kept going into Tuesday morning. As usual his Truth Social feed was packed with claims that just dont hold up especially about past elections and his political opponents.

Here is a quick look at some of the main things he shared.

Trump posted something from a supporter that included a quote supposedly from Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana slamming Obama. But that quote was completely made up. In it Kennedy was said to be demanding that Obama give back 120 million dollars he supposedly made from the Obamacare law which never happened.

The whole thing came from a satire site that tricks people into sharing fake stories. Kennedy himself later said he never said any of that.

False stories about Obama have been a favorite of Trumps for years and this spree had plenty of them. He shared a post pretending to be from the late John F Kennedy Jr that accused Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower in 2016 and called it worse than Watergate. There has never been any proof of that and the Justice Department said years ago there were no records to back it up.

He also passed along other wild claims like Hillary Clinton selling secrets on her email server Obama ordering cover ups and even stuff about police officers dying suspiciously. On top of that there was the usual nonsense about Obamas birth certificate.

Trump did not stop there on the election lies either. He shared posts from Michael Flynn saying the 2020 election was stolen and others pushing the old Dominion voting machine conspiracies about millions of votes being deleted or switched. None of that ever happened.

In one post he went after The New York Times for writing about how much his Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool project was costing. While criticizing the story he claimed the paper is losing subscribers by the hour. That is not true though. The Times has actually been adding hundreds of thousands of subscribers each quarter and now sits at over 13 million.

Overall it was a typical burst of activity from Trump full of the kind of unproven claims he often spreads online.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the clock is ticking for them to reach a peace agreement with the United States. He made it clear that failure to do so would mean a very bad time ahead, with nothing left for Tehran if things escalate further. In one of his posts, he even shared a map of the Middle East covered by the US flag with arrows pointing toward Iran.

Iran, meanwhile, is preparing to reveal its plan for managing shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which includes charging tolls. This move comes as the country feels the economic pressure from the war, with local shop owners in places like Bandar Abbas reporting that rising prices are driving customers away and hurting their businesses badly.

In Gaza, Israeli attacks continued, killing at least eight Palestinians in various areas including Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis, and Beit Lahiya. One strike hit a community kitchen, taking the lives of three workers who were trying to help feed people in need. The Palestinian Health Ministry also noted additional deaths and injuries over the past couple of days, with bodies still being pulled from rubble.

Lebanon saw more violence as an Israeli airstrike in Baalbek killed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander and his 17-year-old daughter. Israeli forces claimed to have hit around 100 sites in southern Lebanon recently, even as talks for extending a ceasefire were underway.

A drone strike caused a fire at an electrical generator near the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE’s Al Dhafra region. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three drones coming from Iraq, while India called for calm and condemned the escalation.

Inside Iran, police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan announced that authorities have arrested more than 6,500 people they describe as traitors and spies since the war began. The foreign minister held talks with counterparts in Turkey and France about the stalled negotiations and broader regional issues. Iran also warned the UAE against getting too close to Israel, saying patience has its limits.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry strongly criticized Israel’s plan to take control of up to 20 properties near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, calling it a form of ethnic cleansing aimed at pushing Palestinians out.

On the economic front, Lebanon is estimating losses of over 25 billion dollars from the war that started in 2024. In Gaza, a flotilla trying to deliver aid reported an unidentified ship, possibly military, approaching them, raising concerns based on past incidents where Israel intercepted similar vessels.

These developments show how the conflict keeps spreading ripples across the Middle East, affecting everything from shipping routes to daily life for ordinary people. The situation remains fluid, with diplomacy seeming stuck while military actions continue in several spots.