OAN Staff Sophia Flores
5:12 PM – Thursday, June 18, 2026
The dedication ceremony for the Barack Obama Presidential Center commenced Thursday in Chicago’s Jackson Park, nearly five years after breaking ground. The project, which cost over $850 million to build, officially opens to the public on Friday.
The center was funded entirely through private donations raised by the Obama Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, according to PBS.
At the star-studded dedication ceremony, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama used the unveiling of their new presidential center to launch political swipes at President Donald Trump. Speaking before an audience of foreign dignitaries, Hollywood stars, and other A-listers during the three-hour event, the former president framed his legacy against the backdrop of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the country’s founding.
In his remarks, Obama emphasized how radical the concept of self-government truly was in 1776, using the 250th milestone to implicitly question Trump’s commitment to “democratic institutions” — a familiar rhetorical strategy that weaponizes American history to score partisan points.
“To that point, human history was a tale of conquest and caste and rigid hierarchies. A world where the strong dominated the weak, where power and wealth and status flowed through lineage, and the many were ruled by the few,” Obama said. “But out of the fire and steel of a revolution, a different story took flight on this continent a declaration that we are all created equal, endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, and that in the newly independent United States there will be no kings or lower, no serfs or subjects, but only citizens.”
Nonetheless, the complex has also since faced criticism from the Trump administration over its delayed timeline and execution. White House spokesman Davis Ingle noted that the project was over budget and plagued by a decade of construction delays, drawing a contrast with the GOP administration’s leadership.
Costs ballooned from $500 million to more than $830 million, the New York Post reported.
“President Trump continues to implement long-overdue and necessary renovations to beautify Washington, D.C., and our nation’s treasured monuments as we approach our historic 250th anniversary of independence. Thanks to the Builder-in-Chief, these projects are being completed on time and under budget — a stark contrast to the errantly run Obama administration, which overspent and underdelivered,” Ingle told Fox News Digital.
The Chicago event was attended by former Presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, each accompanied by their wives. Failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris was also in attendance with her husband Doug Emhoff.
Additionally, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Oprah, Nancy Pelosi and director Steven Spielberg attended the ceremony as well.
Several artists performed at the event, including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, The Roots, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Marc Anthony, Tems, and U2’s Bono and The Edge.
Prior to Obama’s keynote address, Michelle Obama introduced her husband.
“Barack and I have always said that this center is grounded in our stories, but it has never been about us,” she said. “It’s never been for us. And it’s going to be here long after we’re gone. So, what it becomes and how it’s preserved, that work has to be done by all of us, just like our democracy.”
“Our greatest hope is that this center can reflect back just a fraction of that light,” she continued. “That it can capture the beauty of who we all are, no matter what we look like, or where we come from, or how much money we earn, or how we pray, or vote, or speak, or love.”
During his remarks, Obama expressed hope that the artifacts in the center will “inspire visitors to work for change.”
“And it’s why we designed the center not to be some lifeless mausoleum – I am too young for that – not just a place to see Michelle’s dresses, although I understand that will be the top attraction,” Obama remarked. We wanted it to be a vibrant, living celebration of community, where we can learn together… and strengthen the bonds of trust that not only make our lives richer, but make our democracy [stronger].”
“And it’s why the exhibits here focus not just on policies but on the shared values that make democracy possible… more than anything, I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious our democracy truly is, and remind us what we can achieve when we embrace our shared responsibilities as citizens,” he continued.
As Obama joined a gathering of Hollywood celebrities and political elites in Chicago to dedicate his presidential library, President Trump notably hosted a White House ceremony to award the Medal of Honor to three veterans who demonstrated extraordinary valor in the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars.
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