Barack and Michelle Obama used the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago to deliver speeches filled with veiled criticism of Donald Trump and his administration, contrasting their vision of U.S. leadership with what they described as corrosive po
On Thursday, the Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago to a star-studded crowd, and the atmosphere was celebratory—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden in attendance, with performances by Bruce Springsteen and Christina Aguilera.
But the celebration quickly carried an edge. Both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama used their speeches to take sharp aim at what they framed as “Trumpism,” even as Barack Obama avoided saying Donald Trump’s name outright.
Barack Obama spoke for about 30 minutes. He began by returning to a familiar theme: the country’s role in the world. “At our best, the United States has been an undeniable force for good in the world,” he said, while acknowledging that America has made its share of foreign policy mistakes.
He then built his contrast carefully, returning to the kind of foreign policy he believes the U.S. should pursue—championing human rights and democracy. stewarding the planet. leading efforts to eradicate disease. feeding the hungry. and educating children. He tied that vision to international cooperation instead of domination. “When we encourage cooperation between nations instead of trying to dominate and bully and squeeze every advantage just because we can. ” he said. “and most of all. when we show through our example here at home that even a country as big and diverse as ours can make democracy work… the world gets a little bit brighter.”.
In the same spirit, Obama warned about politics that treats the federal government as something less than a public trust. He criticized those who “see government as nothing more than a way to divvy up the spoils and punish enemies. and keep those who are different in their place.” He didn’t name Trump. but the room understood the target.
Michelle Obama followed, turning the spotlight to her husband’s record while also underscoring the stakes of the moment. She listed several of Barack Obama’s accomplishments as president. including the Osama Bin Laden raid. the end of the war in Iraq. the bailout and reconstruction of the American auto industry. and the winning of a “peace prize.” The reference to a Nobel Peace Prize drew a clear nod at Trump and his fixation on winning it.
The dig landed hard enough to spark a visible reaction from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, who laughed.
Then Michelle Obama pivoted from achievements to a broader rebuke. Speaking about her husband. she said. “How absurd it is to even imagine that you might have buckled under the pressure even once. lashed out in frustration. lost your temper.” She continued: “How absurd it is to imagine that you might have done anything but make our family and this entire country proud.”.
“No, you were too busy. … You were doing the people’s work,” she added.
In the final stretch of her remarks. Michelle Obama delivered a warning that seemed aimed directly at the current White House. “Failing to see the humanity in all people puts us all on a slippery slope. and once that slide starts. there’s no telling where it stops. ” she said. She called it “a dangerous precedent” that “flies in the very face of our faith. and of the founding promise of this democracy that all of us are created equal. and that each of us is a child of God with inherent value.”.
By the time the speeches ended. the setting—a gleaming new center meant to honor the former president’s legacy—had become something else. too. In Chicago, the Obamas didn’t just look back. They made the case that the country’s direction. at home and abroad. hinges on how power is used and what people decide not to see.
Obama Presidential Center Chicago Barack Obama speech Michelle Obama speech Donald Trump Trumpism foreign policy democracy human rights Osama Bin Laden raid war in Iraq auto industry bailout Nobel Peace Prize