Trump Offers to Help with Obama Presidential Center Amidst Cost Overruns and DEI Concerns

Former President Donald Trump has offered his assistance in the development of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, citing significant cost overruns and delays plaguing the project. Trump has linked these issues to the project’s embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which have drawn considerable attention recently.

Trump, known for his extensive experience in real estate development, pointed to the escalating costs of the Obama Presidential Center, which have ballooned from an initial $350 million to $830 million in 2021, with no updated figures currently available. He suggested that prioritizing DEI over meritocracy may be contributing to the project’s challenges.

"Look, President Obama, if he wanted help, I’d give him help because I’m a really good builder, and I build on time, on budget," Trump stated during a White House appearance alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "He’s building his library in Chicago. It’s a disaster."

Trump’s remarks came in the context of discussing the Biden administration’s CHIPS Act, aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing, and its associated DEI provisions. He specifically referenced Obama’s purported emphasis on DEI in the construction of the presidential center.

"[Obama] said something to the effect, ‘I only want DEI, I only want woke,’" Trump claimed. "He wants woke people to build it. Well, he got woke people, and they have massive cost overruns. A job is stopped. I don’t know, it’s a disaster. And I don’t like that happening because it’s bad for the presidency that a thing like that should happen. He’s got a library that’s a disaster."

The Obama Presidential Center, situated on a 19.3-acre site, is envisioned as a multifaceted complex featuring a 225-foot-tall museum, a digital library, conference facilities, a gymnasium, and a regulation-sized NBA court.

From its inception, the project has emphasized diversity and inclusion, setting ambitious goals for construction diversity quotas. Contracts were allocated to diverse suppliers, with a requirement that 35% of them be minority-based enterprises (MBEs).

However, a $40.75 million racially charged lawsuit filed earlier this year by a minority contractor against the project’s structural engineer has cast a spotlight on the DEI-driven aspect of the project. The structural engineers alleged that the minority contractor lacked the necessary qualifications and experience to perform its work, leading to delays.

Trump suggested that Obama was "paying" for prioritizing DEI over meritocracy. He also took a jab at what he perceived as a lack of experienced construction workers on the project.

"And he wanted to be very politically correct, and he didn’t use good, hard, tough, mean construction workers that I love," Trump said, addressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "I love those construction workers, but he didn’t want construction workers. He wanted people that never did it before, and he’s got a disaster in his hands. Many millions of dollars over budget, and I would love to help him with it, or somebody else I could recommend professionals, but it was not built in a professional manner."

In response to Trump’s remarks, Emily Bittner, the vice president of communications at the nonprofit Obama Foundation, refuted the claims and asserted that Trump’s statements were not based on facts. She emphasized that the Obama Presidential Center itself is not involved in the lawsuit and that the lawsuit did not delay the timeline of the facility. The opening is still set for 2026.

"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," Bittner stated. "We look forward to welcoming all visitors to the 19.3-acre campus next spring, to experience a presidential center that not only honors the Obamas’ legacy but also lifts up the next generation of leaders."

Bittner also highlighted the significant progress being made on the project, as evidenced by the hundreds of workers on site every day. She clarified that the project is being funded privately and not by taxpayer dollars.

Furthermore, Bittner pointed out that the library at the center will be a digital one, unlike other presidential libraries, which are federally funded and have size restrictions.

Obama’s current presidential library is located in Hoffman Estates, a suburb northwest of Chicago. It is expected to move to College Park, Maryland, later this year.

The Obama Presidential Center aims to be more than just a repository of historical documents; it is intended to be a dynamic community hub, fostering civic engagement and promoting positive social change. The project’s focus on DEI reflects a commitment to creating opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that the center reflects the diversity of the community it serves.

Whether Trump’s offer of assistance will be accepted remains to be seen. However, his comments have injected a new level of scrutiny into the Obama Presidential Center project and its approach to DEI. The coming years will determine whether the project can overcome its current challenges and achieve its ambitious goals.