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According to a report by Vanguard Newspapers on Thursday, June 18, 2026, All living former presidents of the United States, with the notable exception of current President Donald Trump, came together on Thursday for the opening ceremony of former President Barack Obama’s presidential center in Chicago.
The event marked a historic occasion as the modern presidential center, dedicated to celebrating Obama’s legacy as the first Black president of the United States, officially opened ahead of its public debut scheduled for Friday.
The gathering brought together prominent political leaders, influential public figures and celebrated entertainers to commemorate the milestone, highlighting Obama’s enduring place in American history.
The ceremony also served as one of the few occasions in recent years when former American presidents appeared together at the same event, underscoring the significance of the opening.
The Barack Obama Presidential Center, located on Chicago’s South Side, showcases the life, presidency and public service of the 64-year-old former president.
Designed with a modern architectural style, the center is intended to preserve Obama’s legacy while providing educational opportunities and community engagement through exhibitions, programs and public spaces.
Thursday’s opening ceremony was reserved for invited guests, dignitaries and celebrities, while members of the public were scheduled to begin visiting the facility on Friday.
The center stands in the city where Obama built much of his political career and where he previously taught constitutional law before entering national politics.
The opening ceremony attracted an impressive lineup of celebrities from across the entertainment industry.
Among those in attendance were acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg, Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks and media personality Oprah Winfrey.
The event also featured musical performances from legendary singer Stevie Wonder, rock icon Bruce Springsteen and the hip-hop band The Roots, adding to the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the unveiling of the presidential center.
The combination of political leaders and entertainment figures reflected the broad influence Obama continues to have in American public life years after leaving office.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the appearance of the country’s living former presidents. Republican former President George W. Bush joined Democratic former Presidents Bill Clinton and Joe Biden as they walked onto the stage alongside Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and the couple’s daughters, Sasha and Malia Obama. Their appearance together represented a rare display of unity among former American leaders despite their differing political affiliations.
Such gatherings have traditionally symbolized continuity in the American presidency and respect for the institution, regardless of political differences between administrations.
The event, however, also reflected the deep political divisions that continue to shape the United States. President Donald Trump did not attend the opening ceremony, making him the only living U.S. president absent from the gathering.
His absence was widely noted, particularly because occasions involving current and former presidents have historically served as opportunities for bipartisan recognition of presidential legacies.
Trump has consistently criticised Barack Obama since returning to office and has frequently directed personal attacks at the former president, departing from the long-standing tradition in which former and sitting presidents generally refrain from publicly targeting one another in personal terms.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Chicago residents gathered nearby to witness the historic occasion from a distance.
Many watched from the Midway Plaisance, the mile-long public park that stretches past the University of Chicago, where Barack Obama once taught law before launching his successful political career.
The park became a gathering point for members of the public hoping to share in the atmosphere surrounding the opening of the presidential center.
While access to Thursday’s ceremony was limited to invited guests, the opening of the center to the general public on Friday is expected to allow visitors from across the United States and around the world to explore the institution dedicated to preserving Obama’s presidential legacy.
