- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
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
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
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.
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.
Miami top stories
Miami events
Mar. 10, 2026
Miami Heat vs. Washington WizardsMar. 10, 2026
Backstage & BurgersMar. 10, 2026
Florida Grand Opera presents Turandot




