Star-studded ceremony welcomes Obama Presidential Center to Chicago - live

Key Points:

• The Obama Presidential Center was ceremonially dedicated in Chicago with attendance from former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Joe Biden, and their spouses, along with prominent political figures and foreign dignitaries, marking the largest investment in a century on Chicago’s South Side.
• The $850 million center features original artworks by 30 diverse artists and includes community amenities such as a public library branch, basketball court, recording studio, and sledding hill, aiming to serve as a cultural and civic hub.
• Former first lady Michelle Obama praised her husband’s leadership during the ceremony, highlighting his optimism, courage, and accomplishments, and framed the center as a refuge amid current divisive times.
• Separately, former president Donald Trump’s administration redirected $352 million in federal funds originally meant for Secret Service operations to fund the controversial White House East Wing ballroom, despite congressional refusal to allocate funds for the project.
• On foreign policy, the Trump administration announced a memorandum of understanding with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and continue nuclear talks, drawing mixed reactions from U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials, with some Republicans criticizing the deal as undermining previous military gains.