Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, have enlisted a star-studded lineup for the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center.
Despite the noble cause the establishment aims to achieve, Obama’s vocal critic, Donald Trump, has still bashed it as a “total disaster.”
Obama has also been dragged into a media storm after reports emerged claiming subcontractors for the project are owed millions.
Barack Obama Reveals Star-Studded Opening Lineup
The Obama Foundation has unveiled a star-studded roster of musical icons and performers slated to take the stage for the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday, June 18.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Springsteen, music icon Stevie Wonder, and U2’s Bono and The Edge are set to headline the private, invite-only event for thousands of guests.
They will be joined by several other major artists, including Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Eddie Vedder, Common, Marsai Martin, Tems, and Grammy-winning hip-hop band The Roots.
According to USA Today, the grand opening will kick off the weekend-long festivities, which promise to be a “celebration of the values that shaped the Obama presidency,” including the “power to create change.”
Michelle Obama Calls Center A ‘Full-Circle Moment’
The sprawling campus, nestled on the South Side of Chicago, houses the stone-clad Obama Presidential Museum and a Chicago Public Library branch.
It also features an athletic center, a playground, a sledding hill, a cafe and restaurant, and extensive outdoor areas.
The former president and his wife have been busy promoting the event on social media. In a video shared to her X account, Michelle explained that opening the center in their home city of Chicago is a “full-circle moment” for her, as she recalled passing the exact location daily as a child.
She said the place used to be empty and a “dangerous place,” but to now be part of the vision her husband and his team brought to life means there is “nothing more full circle than that.”
Obama Foundation Responds To Trump’s Attacks
In spite of the seemingly noble cause the Obama Foundation aims to achieve by launching the center, Trump still bashed the $850 million project as a “total disaster” in a February 22 Truth Social post, saying it was over budget and delayed.
In a May 30 post, he shared a fabricated image depicting a giant trash can in a parking lot under the headline “The Obama Presidential Library.”
However, Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett responded by extending an invitation to the president, per USA Today.
“Judge for yourself,” she said. “When our visitors come, they will see a spectacular campus. … If (Trump) would like to come and visit it himself, we would welcome him and give him a tour.”
Obama Center Opening Clouded By Contract Disputes
Meanwhile, the Obama Presidential Center is facing intense financial and legal scrutiny, as the foundation behind it has yet to make good on the $470 million “safety net” promised to guarantee project completion and serve as a financial buffer for the center.
According to Fox News Digital, the foundation entered into an agreement with the city and pledged to create the fund as part of its 99-year deal, which will see it take control of the 19-acre section of Jackson Park for just $10.
The foundation deposited $1 million into the reserve fund in 2021, but recent public filings show that the balance has mostly remained unchanged. This has sparked concerns that taxpayers could be left holding the bag should funds dry up.
“One of their core promises was they were supposed to create an endowment as basically an insurance policy so the taxpayers wouldn’t get stuck with the bill,” Illinois GOP Chair Robert Grogan told the news outlet. “They promised hundreds of millions of dollars for it. It’s still sitting at the $1 million mark [where it stood] when they opened it up. So, I don’t believe that they’ve kept that promise.”
Obama Foundation Pushes Back On Money Concerns
There have also been reports that contractors involved in the project remain unpaid, with many claiming losses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to tens of millions.
According to Fox News Digital, Adamson Plumbing President Mike Owen came forward with his company’s records, which showed they are $4 million in the red. He explained that a combination of unnecessary reworks, delays, and several change-order requests left his firm absorbing millions of dollars in additional costs.
The president of the African American Contractors Association, Omar Shareef, also told the news platform that several Black-owned businesses are in dire situations because of the project.
However, the Obama Foundation maintains that it is in compliance with its agreement with the city, adding that although the agreement stipulates the creation of an endowment, there is no dollar target.
The foundation also dispelled concerns of financial constraints, saying the center is “fully funded” and that it plans to make “significant investments” in the endowment in the coming years.
“On the eve of our Grand Opening celebrations, we are pleased to reiterate that the Obama Presidential Center is fully funded with generous private contributions,” the Obama Foundation said in a statement.