Barack and Michelle Obama lose top donors for their Chicago project amid divorce rumors
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Former first couple Barack and Michelle Obama have lost some of their biggest donors in developing the Obama Presidential Center in the south side of Chicago, the Irish Star reported on Wednesday, February 5.
The setback comes at a time when the couple is rumored to be facing marriage troubles and is expected to head for divorce.
Financial issues plaguing Obama Presidential Center
An under-construction project that is expected to become a lasting tribute to the first Black president of the United States, the Obama Presidential Center has run into funding troubles with notable donors such as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky withdrawing their support.
The location of the upcoming establishment is significant to the couple, as it is close to the University of Chicago, where Barack taught constitutional law, and just north of Michelle's childhood neighborhood.
The center will house a museum, offices for the Obama Foundation, a public library, and recreational areas. It was scheduled to open in 2021 but is now slated for 2026, marking 3,100 days of Barack Obama leaving office. The budget for the project, which initially stood at $500 million, has surged to over $700 million as a result of delays.
While the Obama Foundation is set to manage the center, the funding for construction is being obtained from private donors. In 2022, Bezos and Chesky donated $100 million each, bringing the year's total to $311 million.
However, with them out of the picture, the number is expected to drop significantly.
Probable trouble in paradise for Obamas
The funding is far from the only woe plaguing the Obamas at present. Rumors have been circulating over the last few weeks that Barack and Michelle Obama are heading for a divorce, even though it is yet to be substantiated by valid evidence.
According to the Irish Star, the speculations grew stronger after Barack attended two state ceremonies without Michelle by his side.
The former first lady skipped attending the state funeral of the late former president Jimmy Carter as well as the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. Her absence has been attributed by some to her disdain for the incumbent.
Michelle and Barack Obama got married in 1992, three years after they first met at the law firm Sidley Austin. They share two daughters, Malia Ann and Sasha Obama.
