Barack Obama's Presidential Center has become a hub for controversies. While the then-president spoke to a crowd in Chicago, in May 2017, he shared his vision for it, explaining, "What we want this to be is the world premiere institution for training young people and leadership to make a difference in their communities, in their countries and in the world," (via PBS ). The beloved politician also confirmed that the ambitious 225,000 square-foot campus would be situated in Chicago's Jackson Park. However, at some point during the construction, which began in 2021, the size of the campus grew considerably, ultimately reaching over 840,000 square feet.

The estimated costs for the project similarly skyrocketed over time, starting with an already outrageous $350 million in 2018 before climbi

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