Obama Drops Presidential Center Mega-Event With 3 Ex-Presidents; Trump Gets No Invite
Three former presidents joined Barack Obama in Chicago as he opened his new presidential center and urged Americans to defend democracy.
Former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden attended the star-studded opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Thursday [176547]. Donald Trump was not invited [176547]. The event drew political elites, White House alumni, donors, and business leaders just weeks before crucial elections [175600].
Barack Obama used the occasion to call on Americans to protect democracy. “I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of how precious our democracy truly is,” Obama said [176157]. Singer Stevie Wonder closed the celebration [176157]. The center opens to the public on June 19 in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, aiming to draw visitors to a part of the city that many tourists skip [171285]. The museum and library are expected to boost local businesses and tourism on the South Side [171285].