Former President Barack Obama used the dedication ceremony of his presidential center in Chicago on Thursday to criticize America’s Founding Fathers, arguing that they fell “terribly short” of the promises laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

Speaking just days before the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary on the Fourth of July, Obama reflected on the nation’s founding and claimed that the success of the American experiment was never guaranteed.

“In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the Declaration’s promise,” Obama said, pointing to the existence of slavery at the time and restrictions that allowed only certain property-owning white men to vote.

At the same time, Obama acknowledged that the Founders demonstrated remarkable foresight and genius by creating a Constitution and a Bill of Rights that established the framework for future generations to strengthen and improve the nation.

While critics on the left often focus exclusively on America’s flaws, many Americans continue to recognize the extraordinary achievement of the Founders, whose vision created the freest and most prosperous nation in human history. After all, it’s hard to celebrate 250 years of success without giving some credit to the people who started the whole thing.

Obama framed America’s story as a continuing effort by successive generations to build a more perfect union, arguing that the nation’s progress has come through citizens working to expand the principles first established at the country’s founding.

As America approaches this historic milestone, millions of patriots will be celebrating not only the nation’s achievements but also the enduring principles of freedom, self-government, and opportunity that have made the United States a beacon of hope for generations.