Obama Presidential Center Opens with Support from Former Presidents and Entertainers

Former US president Barack Obama is getting a little help from his friends, including three former presidents, in celebrating the opening of his presidential museum in Chicago.

The guest list for Thursday’s dedication ceremony includes Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera and Bono.

Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama posed for pictures before the ceremony with former presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton along with former first ladies Jill Biden, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama and Michelle Obama are both expected to give remarks. The invite-only celebration was live-streamed and kicks off a weekend of events centred around the Obama Presidential Centre, which opens to the general public on Juneteenth (June 19).

US President Donald Trump is not among the announced guests. He called the US$850 million centre a “total disaster” in a social media post in February.

Guests at Thursday’s event included a mix of actors and other entertainers, past and present politicians, athletes, local power brokers and other national figures.

Those in the audience included California Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate; civil rights leaders Andrew Young and Al Sharpton; Oprah Winfrey; comedians David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert; tennis legend Billie Jean King and Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts.