Trump Criticizes Obama's Presidential Library Project

Former president claims Illinois is overspending and local community is "angry as hell" over the development.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Former President Donald Trump took to social media to criticize the ongoing construction of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois. Trump claimed the project is "badly delayed" and "tremendously over budget," and that the local neighborhood is "angry as hell" about it. The Obama library, originally slated to open in 2021, is now expected to open this June after facing several construction delays due to lawsuits and cost factors.

Why it matters

Trump has long been a vocal critic of Obama's presidential library project, previously describing it as "woke" and "a disaster." This latest attack is seen as part of an ongoing feud between the two former presidents, as Trump also faces scrutiny over plans for his own presidential library in Miami.

The details

In his social media post, Trump claimed that Illinois is "spending hundreds of millions of dollars" to "bail out" the Obama library project, which he said is "a total disaster." The former president has previously criticized the design of the Obama library, saying it is "not too pretty" and that Obama "needs help" for approving such a plan.

  • The Barack Obama Presidential Center is now expected to open in Chicago, Illinois this June.
  • The project was originally slated to open in 2021 but faced several construction delays due to lawsuits and cost factors.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has repeatedly criticized the Obama presidential library project.

Barack Obama

The former president of the United States whose presidential library project in Chicago has faced criticism from Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Illinois is spending hundreds of millions of dollars in trying to BAIL OUT Obama's badly delayed, and tremendously over budget, 'Library.' The neighborhood is ANGRY AS HELL. It is a total disaster!”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

What’s next

Plans are already underway for Trump's own presidential library to be constructed, with Miami Dade College trustees voting last December to approve the transfer of a 3-acre plot of land in Miami, Florida to be used for the project.

The takeaway

The ongoing feud between Trump and Obama over their respective presidential library projects highlights the partisan divide in US politics, with the former presidents continuing to spar over their legacies and the use of public funds for such developments.