Barack Obama’s recent post about his Presidential Center got the internet buzzing—and not exactly in the way he might’ve hoped. He described the center as "a hub for change" and a place for people from around the world to come together, get inspired, and take what they learn back to their communities. But the reactions? Absolutely priceless.
The Obama Presidential Center, which is set to open next year, has been plagued with delays, lawsuits, and rising costs since it broke ground in September 2021. What was originally planned as a $500 million project is now ballooning in price, covering nearly 20 acres of Jackson Park. Despite the grand vision—complete with a museum, public library, athletic center, gardens, and children’s play area—it’s been less than smooth sailing for the center's construction.
Local residents have expressed their frustration, with skyrocketing rents and property taxes as the construction nears completion. A two-bedroom apartment that once rented for $800 a month is now going for $1,800, and property taxes have become so high that some are threatening to walk away from their buildings. So much for the community integration that was promised. Instead, many are calling the center a "monstrosity," with one local lamenting that it’s taking away from the area’s natural beauty.
But let’s get to the funny part—the reactions to Obama’s proud post. While he and Michelle admired the center, many took to social media to point out that the building looks, well, less than inspiring. Some compared it to the gray, utilitarian buildings of the Soviet Union or a dystopian prison. It’s hard to ignore that the center’s design has been described as one of the ugliest buildings many have ever seen. Some even joked that it looked like a massive Lego set assembled without instructions.
The online crowd got creative, superimposing everything from "Star Wars" X-wing fighters closing in on the building to the Eye of Sauron perched atop the roof, giving the center a menacing touch. Others photoshopped it to resemble the torsos of the AT-AT walkers from The Empire Strikes Back or compared it to Easter Island heads and kitty litter boxes. Let’s just say, it’s not winning any architectural awards anytime soon.
One user dubbed the building an “obamanation,” and another quipped, “It’s like someone built a Lego set without the instructions.” The jokes just kept rolling, and they were as relentless as the center's price tag.
In short, while Obama’s trying to promote change with his Presidential Center, the internet is having a field day, and it’s not the kind of change he was hoping for.
