Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago with star-studded ceremony and democratic messages

Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama opened the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s Jackson Park, attending with ex-presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, while Donald Trump was not invited. The privately funded $850 million complex blends a museum, library and community hub, featuring a replica Oval Office, park space, a playground, recording studio and performances by artists like Jennifer Hudson and John Legend. Obama framed the center as a living celebration of community, art and democracy, but critics warned of cost overruns, delays and concerns about gentrification on the South Side.