At the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Thursday, June 18, 2026, former first lady Michelle Obama highlighted her husband’s achievements in a way that sent the crowd into enthusiastic applause and drew a visible reaction from former first lady and secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Michelle Obama credited former President Barack Obama with “ending a war, ordering the bin Laden raid, saving an auto industry, winning a peace prize.” The emphasis on the final accomplishment was widely seen as a pointed swipe at President Donald Trump, who has long desired the Nobel Peace Prize that Barack Obama received in 2009.
Trump has only obtained someone else’s prize and a questionable FIFA award. María Corina Machado, 2025 Nobel laureate, gave Trump her actual physical gold medal as a gesture, but the Norwegian Nobel Institute said the laureate title is non-transferable.
Sitting behind Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton visibly enjoyed the comment about the peace prize. Video footage captured Clinton turning to whisper something to the former president, prompting him to grin as the audience continued cheering. Clinton lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential race.
The exchange quickly went viral on social media, with one user posting video and writing, “Hillary Clinton really like the peace prize line.”
During his own remarks at the opening of his presidential center, Barack Obama urged Americans to “look toward each other again, not further away.” He delivered pointed criticism of Trump without naming his successor, particularly when discussing a “belief in the peaceful transfer of power.”
The former president applauded former Sen. Mitt Romney and the late former Sen. John McCain, Republicans who challenged him for the presidency and later emerged as vocal critics of Trump.
Michelle Obama also implored Americans to remain engaged during her speech. Though she did not mention anyone in the Trump administration by name, she called out immigration policies, stating, “No one has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
The center officially opened to the public on Juneteenth, June 19. The extensive facility features a museum, garden, basketball court and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library. The center has been in the works for more than a decade and cost $850 million to build.
The grand opening event showcased an impressive roster of musical talent, with performances or appearances by Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Common, Bono/The Edge, Marc Anthony, Eddie Vedder, Tems, Marsai Martin and Christina Aguilera. Guests at the opening included former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Joe Biden, though Trump was not invited to the opening.
In recent days, Michelle Obama has focused her social media attention on the center’s artwork. In a post on Tuesday, she highlighted artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s portrait of her and Barack Obama for the Obama Presidential Center.
“Barack and I were so honored to have @AkunyiliCrosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center,” she wrote. Michelle Obama said the artist’s talent is evident and praised how she brought vibrancy and happiness to the work, expressing confidence that visitors will appreciate it.
The portrait incorporates a mosaic of images featuring the former first couple throughout different stages of their lives and careers. Reacting to the piece in a video, Michelle Obama said, “It’s us! And all of the stories within the story.” She later added, “Oh my god, you got everything in there!”
The Tuesday post came after UFC fighter Josh Hokit made controversial comments about Michelle Obama following his victory at the UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House lawn on Sunday, June 14. Michelle Obama did not address Hokit’s comments in her social media post, instead keeping her focus on the presidential center and Crosby’s artwork.
Trump’s feud with Barack Obama long predates his time in the White House, and the peace prize moment at the Chicago ceremony underscored the continuing tension between the current president and his predecessor.