Obamas Hit With Major Setback Amid Legal Troubles and Divorce Rumors: Report
Obamas Hit With Major Setback Amid Legal Troubles and Divorce Rumors: Report
Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are facing a significant decline in donor support for the Obama Presidential Center as some of their wealthiest backers distance themselves from the project, according to a new report.
Obamas lose MOST of their donations, as donors warn he’s an ‘arrogant’ spendthrift pic.twitter.com/sg6blOjcLx
— RT (@RT_com) February 5, 2025
The Chicago-based center, currently under construction on the South Side, has seen a sharp drop in fundraising, according to IRS filings, per the Daily Beast. The foundation raised over $311 million in 2022, bolstered by major contributions from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, who each donated $100 million.
However, fundraising plummeted by more than 50 percent in 2023, signaling growing reluctance among donors.
“He’s arrogant,” said one donor who contributed significantly less to the project than in previous years. “He didn’t help others when they were trying to fundraise, so they’re not going to look out for the Obamas now.”
“There’s no quid-pro-quo because it’s a one-way street.”
Concerns over financial management at the foundation have also raised red flags. In 2023, more than $5 million was paid in “executive compensation,” while over $27.36 million was allocated for other wages. Valerie Jarrett, a longtime Obama confidant and the foundation’s CEO, received a reported $740,000 salary that year, according to the Daily Beast.
The fundraising struggles come as the foundation also faces legal troubles. Resist the Mainstream previously covered the $40 million lawsuit filed against Thornton Tomasetti, one of the key firms involved in constructing the Obama Presidential Center, over allegations of racial discrimination.
The lawsuit, brought by Robert McGee, owner of South Side-based II in One, claims that his company was unfairly targeted by the firm.
McGee alleges that Thornton Tomasetti repeatedly altered project standards and imposed excessive inspections and paperwork, leading to severe delays and financial losses.
“In a shocking and disheartening turn of events, the African American owner of a local construction company finds himself and his company on the brink of forced closure because of racial discrimination by the structural engineer of record (Thornton Tomasetti) for the construction of The Obama Presidential Center,” the lawsuit states.
The complaint further claims that the firm falsely questioned II in One’s qualifications while approving non-minority-owned companies for similar work.
“McGee never imagined that the Obama Foundation’s structural engineer would single out a minority-owned subcontractor for unfair criticism and falsely accuse II in One of lacking sufficient qualifications and experience to perform its work, while, in the same letter, stating that the non-minority-owned contractors were sufficiently qualified,” the lawsuit states, per the Daily Mail.
Thornton Tomasetti has denied the allegations, arguing that construction delays and cost overruns were due to the subcontractor’s “underperformance and inexperience.” A February 2024 memo from the firm included images of cracked concrete and exposed rebar, stating that McGee’s company submitted hundreds of requests to correct its work in the field.
As concerns mount over both funding and the legal battle, supporters of the Obama Presidential Center are anxiously awaiting 2024 fundraising results. The situation has left some donors hesitant, raising questions about both financial oversight and the ongoing discrimination lawsuit.
Adding to the controversy, rumors have circulated on social media and among prominent figures that the Obamas marriage may be on the rocks. Observers have pointed out that Barack and Michelle Obama have not been seen together recently, with video footage circulating of the former president dining alone.
Additionally, Michelle Obama was notably absent from former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and also skipped President Donald Trump’s inauguration, fueling further speculation.
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