On May 6, 2025, during an Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, former President Donald Trump diverted from discussions on international trade to criticize the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Trump alleged, without providing evidence, that former President Barack Obama prioritized hiring individuals based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria over experienced construction workers. He claimed this approach led to significant cost overruns and construction delays, referring to the project as a “disaster.”

Project Faces Legal Challenges and Budget Increases

The Obama Presidential Center, initially projected to cost $350 million, has seen its budget swell to over $800 million, funded through private donations. Construction began in 2021 but has encountered multiple delays due to legal disputes over its location in Chicago’s Jackson Park and other challenges. A recent lawsuit filed by African American-owned subcontractor II in One alleges racial discrimination by engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, though the Obama Foundation is not a party to this dispute.

Obama Foundation Responds to Criticism

In response to Trump’s remarks, the Obama Foundation emphasized the center’s vision and potential impact. “Everyone who sees the Obama Presidential Center is blown away by its beauty, scale, and the way it will be an economic engine for Chicago and a beacon of hope for the world,” said Emily Bittner, a spokesperson for the foundation. The 19.3-acre campus is slated to open in spring 2026 and aims to honor the Obamas’ legacy while fostering leadership development.