Former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett confirmed that President Donald Trump will not be invited to participate in the opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center this summer.
The center’s grand opening celebrations are scheduled to begin June 18 and run through June 21, according to a press release announcing the event. The multi-day program will feature “a series of events that bring together the changemakers, community members, volunteers, and supporters who made the Obama presidency a reality,” while welcoming visitors to celebrate what organizers describe as the “power of hope and change.”
Jarrett addressed the guest list during an appearance on MSNBC’s The Weekend with Jonathan Capehart. When asked directly whether Trump had been invited—similar to how dignitaries typically attend presidential library openings—Jarrett said the ceremony would instead focus on people who were part of Barack Obama’s political movement.
“This is really a chance for us to celebrate with the people who joined President Obama on this journey, the ordinary people who did the extraordinary things,” Jarrett said. “So, no.”
She added that Trump would still be welcome to visit the center after it opens to the public.
“I hasten to add that after we open to the public, should President Trump want to come and tour the center, President Obama would be delighted for him to do so,” she said.
Co-host Eugene Daniels joked that Jarrett’s response was a “very heavy ‘no,’” before asking about the political climate surrounding the center’s opening.
Jarrett said the center aims to emphasize optimism and civic engagement during a period of national division.
“That’s why it’s more important than ever to have a center like this where people can come together,” she said. “Not everyone will agree. In fact, we welcome people who have differences of opinions. We welcome people who didn’t vote for President Obama to realize that we can find common ground, even in these challenging times.”
Jarrett confirmed that other former presidents would be welcome to attend. She specifically noted the close working relationship between Obama and former President George W. Bush.
During Obama’s transition into office, she said, the Bush administration was highly supportive. She also pointed to moments when former presidents worked together after leaving office, including relief efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake led by Bush and Bill Clinton, and bipartisan efforts encouraging Americans to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
The Obama Presidential Center, located in Chicago’s Jackson Park, will serve as the official home of the Obama presidential library and museum once it opens to the public later this year.
