Former U.S. President Barack Obama reacts next to his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., June 18, 2026. Picture taken through the bulletproof glass. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel was astounded on Thursday after former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama called out President Donald Trump during their speeches at the opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Both Obamas spoke at the opening event, which was attended by politicians like former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as thousands of people who supported the Obama campaigns. In her speech, Michelle Obama drew a sharp contrast between her husband and Trump, ending it with a wry smile that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Barack Obama followed up by declaring the central idea of America was that there would be "no kings," a not-so-subtle reference to Trump and the protests that have occurred during Trump's second term.
Gangel said she considered the Obamas' speeches to be a call to action for Americans.
"Let's just call itout. He never mentioned Donald Trump by name, but he didn'tneed to. The message was clear," she said. "President Obamatalked about [how] youshouldn't be a bully. Youshouldn't be divvying upspoils. And then he went on totalk about how he has faith inour country and that if youdidn't, it would be a betrayalof our founding fathers.I'm paraphrasing here, 'Asunsettled as we are, he doesn'tbelieve that people are lookingfor anger.'"
"And then he went on ... itwas really about passing themantle," she added. "He said, 'This is notabout nostalgia. It's not about Barack and Michelle doingsomething or thathistory is yet to be written byall of us,' which is really whatthis center is supposed to be: acall to action."