All the living former U.S. presidents are expected to attend the long-awaited grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, a star-studded lovefest for former President Barack Obama.
The $850 million building in Jackson Park will officially open on Thursday with Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden on hand for the grand event, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Wednesday.
Joining the trio will be former First Ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Jill Biden, with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
THURSDAY — Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Ceremony – LIVE at 10:30am ET on C-SPAN https://t.co/mzL8BfUl4G pic.twitter.com/OgH9JyVPZI
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 17, 2026
“Former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden plan to attend Thursday’s dedication ceremony celebrating the opening of former President Barack Obama’s Presidential Center in Jackson Park, according to a source with direct knowledge of the event’s planning,” according to the paper.
Not expected to attend is the current U.S. leader, President Donald J. Trump, who will almost certainly be bashed in absentia.
Obama Foundation Chief Executive Valerie Jarrett said that the grand opening “will be unlike any other — filled with music, performances, and hope.”
“The Grand Opening Ceremony will reflect a spirit of inspiration and joy, with a big boost from the performers who are sharing their talent with us. We hope to inspire people everywhere to believe in their power to bring change home,” the former president’s longtime confidante declared in a press release.
Barack and Michelle Obama, the former presidents and first ladies, and the crowd of dignitaries, Democrat fat cats, and celebs will be treated to speeches and musical performances by an A-list lineup.
Earlier this week, the Obama Foundation announced the performers for the event.
Let us be clear: This is a generational moment! 🎶🎉
Your Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Ceremony line-up is here. Tell us in the comments who you are the most excited to see! 👇
Tune in to the livestream at 11 a.m. CT Thursday, June 18: https://t.co/2W2VwWS0MI pic.twitter.com/AOgt9oBTG7
— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) June 17, 2026
Hitting the stage will be Trump-hating geezer Bruce Springsteen, the legendary Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, John Legend, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, The Roots, and the insufferable U2 frontman Bono, who will be joined by guitarist The Edge.
When MS NOW host Jonathan Capehart was asked earlier if Trump would be on the guest list for the orgy of Obama worship, Jarrett said that Trump shouldn’t be looking for an invite, but graciously extended a welcome to the current president if he chooses to visit the monument to Mr. Obama’s ego after it opens to the public.
“As I said, this is really a chance for us to celebrate with the people who joined President Obama on this journey, the ordinary people who did the extraordinary things. So, no, but I will say, I hasten to add, that after we open to the public, should President Trump want to come and tour the center, President Obama would be delighted for him to do so,” she said at the time.
The Obama Presidential Center will open to the public on Friday, which is also Juneteenth.
The former presidents also attended the funeral of civil rights activist and political gadfly Jesse Jackson in March, with Obama hijacking the solemn occasion to deliver a bitter anti-Trump rant.
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