Former President Barack Obama paid glowing tribute to predecessors George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and even their spouses in a public post Thursday — while leaving Joe and Jill Biden in the relative dust.
Obama’s conspicuous separation of Bush and Clinton — two former presidents who he battled against politically in 2008 — from the Bidens in his appreciation post for attending the opening of his Barack Obama Presidential Center earlier in the day raised eyebrows.
“To George and Laura, Bill and Hillary — we’re grateful for your friendship, counsel, and devotion to this country,” Obama posted on X.
“And to Joe and Jill, thank you for being on this journey with us.”
Obama was fiercely critical of then-President Bush during Obama’s time in the Senate and even during much of his own time in the White House, trashing his predecessor’s “failed presidency.”
Obama also clashed with both Bill and Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary battle, though he eventually tapped the latter to serve as his secretary of state.
But while 44th president chose Biden to serve as his veep before Joe went on to succeed him as president, Obama then reportedly cast doubts on Biden’s chances of winning re-election in 2024, joining a Democratic mutiny versus the elderly commander in chief after his fumbling debate performance against President Trump.
Still, Obama extolled Biden during his speech Thursday marking the opening of his presidential library complex in Chicago.
“Thank you to your steadfast partnership for eight years. Joe. We started as running mates and ended as family. And we would not be here without you, and we are grateful,” Obama said during his speech.
The biggest snub by Obama during the grand opening of his presidential library targeted Trump, who was not invited.
Trump is allowed to come visit, according to Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett.
During the ceremony, former first lady Michelle Obama took thinly veiled swipes at Trump, alluding to his spewing of “lies” about her husband’s “birthright.
“When fact and fiction run together, when folks seek to stifle speech, limit access to education, devalue diversity, erase the inconvenient parts of our history, when our phones constantly buzz with the latest outrage, I hope that this place can offer a respite from all that — at least for a little while,” she said.
