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Barack and Michelle Obama surprise first visitors to newly opened presidential center

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised the first 100 visitors to walk through the doors of Obama’s new presidential center, personally greeting them Grouped from 11 articles across 8 sources.

11 reports8 sourcesJun 19, 2026, 6:05 PM
FilterABC News
Clustered coverageABC Australia, ABC News, Al Jazeera, CNBC, DW, The Globe and Mail, The Guardian, The Straits Times
Coverage timeline11
Coverage timeline

Coverage timeline

Ranked reports inside the event cluster. Open any publisher link to read the original coverage.

ABC NewsJun 19, 2026, 6:05 PM

Barack and Michelle Obama surprise first visitors to newly opened presidential center

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised the first 100 visitors to walk through the doors of Obama’s new presidential center, personally greeting them

The Globe and MailJun 18, 2026, 1:09 PM

Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago, drawing star-studded crowd

Former U.S. president calls on Americans to resist political cynicism, division and instead embrace ‘shared responsibilities as citizens’

CNBCJun 19, 2026, 1:51 PM

In photos: Star-studded crowd gathers to celebrate the Obama Presidential Center dedication

Barack Obama opened his presidential center in Chicago with former presidents, celebrities and dignitaries in attendance. President Donald Trump was absent.

ABC AustraliaJun 19, 2026, 12:49 AM

Obama centre opens with star-studded crowd but no Trump

All living US ex-presidents, with the notable absence of Donald Trump, have joined a star-studded line-up for the opening of Barack Obama's presidential centre in Chicago.

DWJun 19, 2026, 10:37 AM

US: Stars and ex-leaders on hand to open Obama Center

The Barack Obama Presidential Center was opened in Chicago on Thursday in an event that was a celebration of democracy and an optimistic call to embrace "our shared responsibilities as citizens."

ABC NewsJun 19, 2026, 3:50 PM

WATCH: Music superstars help celebrate Obama Presidential Center opening

Jennifer Hudson kicked off the festivities with a rendition of the National Anthem along with performances from Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Common, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen.

The GuardianJun 18, 2026, 11:29 PM

Star-studded opening for Obama library in Chicago delivers implied rebuke to Trump

Musical stars and retired politicians from less polarised era seeming antidote to cage fights on White House lawn The Barack Obama presidential center opened in Chicago on Thursday after more than a decade in the making amid a musical fanfare and paeans to democratic principles that evoked a previous age, all while delivering an implied rebuke to Donald Trump . Featuring appearances by a cast of musical stars and retired politicians from a less polarised era, it was a seemingly perfect antidote to the crass spectacle of cage fights on the White House lawn. Continue reading...

The Straits TimesJun 18, 2026, 10:43 AM

Obama Presidential Center, designed as hub of civic life, set to open in Chicago

The $1 billion complex will open to the public as Americans mark slavery’s abolition on June 19.

The Globe and MailJun 18, 2026, 8:51 PM

Former U.S. presidents, celebrities, join Obamas to open presidential museum in Chicago

Former U.S. President Barack Obama, joined by three former presidents, celebrated the opening of his presidential museum in Chicago. The event brought together world leaders, A-list celebrities, athletes and other internationally known figures.

The Globe and MailJun 19, 2026, 12:27 AM

Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bono and others perform at opening of Obama Presidential Center

Former President Barack Obama formally opened his presidential center in Chicago on Thursday with help from music legends and superstar acts, including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony and Eddie Vedder.

Al JazeeraJun 19, 2026, 1:12 AM

Obama opens presidential centre with call for unity

Former US President Barack Obama opened his presidential centre in Chicago, using the occasion to call for unity.

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