Donald Trump and Barack Obama continue to trade jabs, with Trump recently mocking delays and cost overruns in Obama’s long-awaited presidential library during a May 6 meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“He’s building his library in Chicago, and it’s a disaster,” Trump said, offering to help as a “really good builder.”
The Obama Presidential Center, a 19-acre, privately funded project in Chicago’s South Side, was initially set to open in 2021 but is now slated for 2026. Its cost has risen from $350 million to $830 million. Despite delays, supporters highlight its economic potential and community focus.
Trump criticized Obama’s emphasis on hiring local and minority-owned contractors, claiming it prioritized “woke” values over efficiency. This comes amid a lawsuit between subcontractors, though the Obama Foundation is not involved and says the project remains on track.
Obama, meanwhile, has criticized Trump’s second-term actions, urging resistance to what he called undemocratic moves, like defunding colleges that uphold mask mandates and DEI programs, and retaliating against media outlets.
Though occasionally cordial in public, such as at President Carter’s funeral, the two remain political adversaries. Trump, who once questioned Obama’s citizenship, has at times praised him, even saying he’d relish running against him if a third term were possible.