INSIDE the “Chateau de Splitsville” – the post-divorce hideway The Obamas are planning that will be their own personal “DMZ”, say sources.
IN AN ultimate display of their hostility, President Barack Obama and feuding First Lady Michelle spent a cold, lonely Father’s Day in Palm Springs – but located a house where the family can peacefully meet after their impending divorce.
Sources tell The National ENQUIRER that despite a secret planned split of their marriage when Obama’s second term ends in 2016, the First Family is eyeing a new property, a $5 million estate – with separate bedrooms.
“Even after the split, they plan to maintain family ties and are considering buying the house,” revealed a close source. Divulged a Washington, D.C. insider: “It’s a ‘neutral’ place so they can all meet there despite Michelle and Barack’s differences.
“The Obamas learned of the lavish Rancho Mirage residence when they visited the area over the Father’s Day holiday with daughter Malia.”
But the weekend getaway only served to highlight how far apart the First Couple has drifted.
“Barack walked out on Father’s Day,” revealed a local insider. “He left the place where they were staying around 9 a.m. Sunday to golf at a private course, Porcupine Creek. He was gone well over five hours.”
The President had also spent most of Saturday solo – flying to a Democratic fundraiser in Laguna Beach without Michelle and then also appearing without her to deliver a commencement speech at the University of California in Irvine.
He didn’t arrive back in Palm Springs until about 2 p.m., but instead of going to see his wife, Barack then spent nearly four hours golfing before finally returning shortly after 7 p.m.
As The ENQUIRER has reported, the First Lady has already met with divorce lawyers, and has told pals she found a new post-White House home in Washington, D.C., for herself and daughters, Malia, 15, and Sasha, 12.
Meanwhile, Barack will return to his native Hawaii. But the five-bedroom, 8,000-square-foot Rancho Mirage getaway is perfectly suited as a place for all the Obamas to meet while keeping up a pretense of harmony.
“During visits they can all feel at home there, and neither the President nor Michelle will feel they’re invading the other’s turf,” said the close source. Palm Springs realtor Jackie Storm noted that the mid-century house offers the family privacy on a gated property with a mountain view, tennis court, home theater and koi pond. And for Barack it has an additional special attraction: a tunnel to a golf course!
