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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump's envy soars over Obama Center
The new Obama Presidential Center ramps up Trumps jealousy
The Iran war loss cements the current presidents failed legacy
By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published June 19, 2026 6:45AM (EDT)
(Salon) Years before he ran, the throughline that would define Donald Trumps presidency was set: his racist, unhinged obsession with Barack Obama. Trump could have gone down in history with a minor but positive reputation, remembered vaguely but fondly by most Americans as the goofy New York character who hosted The Apprentice. Instead, he fell into a spiral of outrage that a Black man who was smarter, more handsome and more beloved than he could ever be had been elected president.
Trump famously spent much of 2011 pushing the racist conspiracy theory that Obama could not be a native-born citizen. This resulted in Obama mocking him while Trump seethed at the White House Correspondents Dinner, a narcissistic injury that clearly stings Trump to this day. Trump spent the next decade-plus trying to destroy Obamas legacy, which he hasnt been able to do, despite two presidential wins. If anything, Trumps malevolence and clownishness have only served to heighten the nations nostalgia for the Obama years.
On Thursday, the contrast grew starker with the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which Trump was pointedly not invited to, though George W. Bush was. It was a star-studded affair, featuring blockbuster performances from megastars like Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, and the Roots. This adds insult to Trumps recent injury, in which a series of far less dazzling musical acts canceled their appearances at Trumps Freedom 250 event, which is ostensibly to celebrate the nations semiquincentennial, but is dominated by Trumps ever-present desire to suck up all available attention.
....(snip)....
Trumps jealousy of Obama is almost certainly a major, perhaps primary, reason he decided to attack Iran in the first place. During his presidency, Obama had negotiated a deal with the country to stop their nuclear development program. Trump almost certainly didnt understand the details or the work that went into that effort, but seized on Republican criticisms of it as evidence for his ongoing crusade to prove that the first Black president was unqualified. One reason the Iran war dragged on for as long as it did was Trumps unwillingness to accept a worse deal than what Obama got through diplomacy. Trump only caved because, as he admitted to reporters, hes trying not to be remembered as another Herbert Hoover. (He shouldnt worry. Hell be remembered as far worse.) ....................(more)
https://www.salon.com/2026/06/19/the-new-obama-presidential-center-ramps-up-trumps-jealousy/
underpants
(197,838 posts)PufPuf23
(10,036 posts)lower if there were not so many bigots in the USA.
Swede
(40,541 posts)Reflections
— Nick Anderson - political cartoonist (@andertoon.bsky.social) 2026-06-18T15:16:19.762Z
Follow my cartoons and accompanying written commentary on Substack: nickanderson.substack.com
For @contrariannews.org
BlueWaveNeverEnd
(15,521 posts)MoseShrute
(174 posts)NNadir
(38,874 posts)malaise
(299,650 posts)Rec
mnhtnbb
(33,606 posts)Maybe the pedo orange a$$hole could go fall in the algae infested no longer reflecting pool and drown himself. We could all promise him a great send off party!
Emile
(44,134 posts)Martin68
(28,304 posts)LisaM
(29,710 posts)He is insanely obsessed. It's funny that this occured right after his name got removed from the Kennedy Center.
The Obama Center opening was one of the most joyful occasions I have seen in a while (and CNN started the day with coverage of the Knicks' parade, which was also a happy time).
I mostly watched coverage on MSNOW but switched a few times and what was the most amazing thing was watching the reporters. They acted like rescue dogs off a leash at the dog park, realizing that life can actually be fun. It's like we all forgot that.
Meanwhile Trump is probably fuming that Juneteenth is a Federal holiday and is plotting how to get rid of it.
Rec. 😀
leftyladyfrommo
(20,052 posts)over the world.
I imagine Trump is just fit to be tied over this gorgeous Library
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(13,294 posts)It will be covered with gold.
RainCaster
(13,950 posts)Trueblue Texan
(4,710 posts)I could see him with handful of his most desperate d*cklickers sitting around the Oval commenting about Michelle's arms as she trolls him with her speech, making petty criticisms of Obama's dignified basking as the new Obama Presidential Center makes center stage on Juneteenth! They would do a fine job of showing TSFs pettiness and incompetence...not that it's not already smeared in our faces daily.
FakeNoose
(43,062 posts)It's a wonderful tribute to his years serving in Illinois and at the White House. They used great care in choosing the spot in South Chicago, near where he first entered the city as a newly hired community organizer. It's where he met, courted and married Michelle, near where they had their first house and their lovely girls were born. So much of his life is wrapped up in this memorial, and it's all there for the people of Chicago (and all of us) to visit, appreciate, and enjoy for ourselves.
Consider this in contrast with Chump's overnight destruction of the Rose Garden and East Wing, with no plan or forethought. His other insane projects around the White House premises and the National Mall speak for themselves. Chump can't plan ahead for 10 days, and the Obamas planned this Library Center for 10 years!
It is a magnificent achievement.
mahina
(20,839 posts)It is the best antidote I could imagine to the heartache and darkness trying to prevail. Nope, no you donʻt, shadows, hatred, misery. Out with you. Light and hope prevails!
and love
always love
Stevie
Dave Id
(377 posts)has never gotten over Barrack Obama embarrassing him at the Press Correspondences Dinner. How dare a Black man treat him with so little respect that he doesn't deserve.
BidenRocks
(3,660 posts)You supported the Obamas and now with their beautiful complex, they are supporting you.
Looking at you Miami!
orangecrush
(31,864 posts)Money definitely does not buy happiness for fucked up people.
themaguffin
(5,541 posts)maliaSmith
(222 posts)Both Trump and his wife are low class scum. She stole Michelle's speeches and tried to palm them off on us as her own. She has no redeeming qualities and will be forgotten quickly, while Michelle will always be thought of as a brilliant woman and First Lady.
Mr. Trump isn't worth my spit. He is something even dogs don't want to shit on due to the stench. I won't say more, due to karma, but you all know and feel the same way I believe. I wish Obama could be president again. I never worried when he and Biden were in office.
GenThePerservering
(4,097 posts)orangecrush
(31,864 posts)?is=sPzl1CI_Z551aJ4F
Wednesdays
(23,470 posts)If there's ever an open Senate seat in Illinois, he would win in a heartbeat.
Sadly for us, he and Michelle are enjoying a quiet life outside of politics, and have no intention of returning to it.
orangecrush
(31,864 posts)They more than earned it.
marble falls
(73,544 posts)orangecrush
(31,864 posts)Glad you enjoyed!
druidity33
(6,955 posts)orangecrush
(31,864 posts)Blue Owl
(60,108 posts)Betty Boom
(506 posts)Until someone explained it to him
Haggard Celine
(18,003 posts)Maybe they were aware because of all the tenants they had to evict during that time. But Trump was born in the 40s, so he was insulated from that. He's been insulated from a lot of things in life.
mike_c
(37,184 posts)Ms Marcotte nails it.
kimbutgar
(27,723 posts)I hope they have a good surveillance and guards at the center.
I can see the orange DICKtator verbally attacking the center in one of his deranged rallies.
He must have been seething seeing all the celebrities, artists and past presidents !
Figarosmom
(14,759 posts)Correspondence Dinner to be held. I think he thinks he has some good material to put down President Obama snd try to ruin his reputation. As mad as he was (about Obama hitting him at his Correspondence Dinner )and as pig headed as he is I'm sure he hired writers to come up with what he thinks is "good" material. I'm sure it'll be cheap shots and ineffective.
Faux pas
(16,609 posts)instead of envy. I wouldn't have put it past the hump 😜
OMGWTF
(5,281 posts)Now he's threatening to attack Cuba to distract from the Iran shitshow.
ETTD
popsdenver
(2,825 posts)It was HIS CABAL, headed by Cheney/Rumsfeld, that most recently provided the momentum for where we are today.....
MyOwnPeace
(17,677 posts)And I would guess he was invited because President Obama respects the office and understands the dynamics and intricacies of what the office means. If you look back at so many times when these 2 men - Bush & Obama - have been seen in public, there seems to be a genuine respect for each other - and it has also been noted that the 2 former First Ladies get along quite well too.
Contrast all of that with the current White House occupants!
Hell, they dont even get along with each other!
marble falls
(73,544 posts)Dulcinea
(10,477 posts)They've gotten to be friends from what I've read. Of course the Bushes would be invited.
but W stood back, with his drug/alcohol addled brain and allowed Cheney/Rumsfeld to lay the groundwork for the Republican Party to Trash America.....BIG TIME..........
Dems still trying to "take the high road"
marble falls
(73,544 posts)ShazzieB
(23,083 posts)He's one of the 4 living ex-presidents, after all; I think it would have looked a little weird to leave him out, especially as he's the only Republican of the 4.
I do love that Schlump was not invited. I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted to be at an event where the guy he hates worse that anyone else on the planet was the undisputed star anyway. If he's sulking over not being able to deliberately snub the event (which wouldn't surprise me), so much the better!
Vogon_Glory
(10,429 posts)himself by remembering that he built more golf courses than Barrack Obama did.
But hes not.
Beartracks
(14,753 posts)oasis
(54,351 posts)Grokenstein
(6,464 posts)Why invite a screechy brat who hasn't been potty-trained to a grown-ups party?
marble falls
(73,544 posts)Blumancru
(385 posts)Maybe an Air Force base or something.