Michelle Obama's speech at center opening moves husband to tears

Former first lady Michelle Obama delivered a loving and heartfelt tribute to her husband at the Obama Presidential Center's grand opening ceremony in Chicago Thursday. "You told me all those years ago that you couldn't promise me the world, but you could promise me an interesting life," she said, "and of course you outdid yourself and managed to give me both." She spoke lovingly of their families; the parents and grandparents that raised them, and their daughters Sasha and Malia. At one point, her speech moved Pres. Obama to wipe away tears as she told the crowd about the "unshakeable values" he has embodied through their lives: "equality, empathy, honesty, inclusion, fairness." Former President Barack Obama gets emotional as his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, speaks during the dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson She spoke of the trials and obstacles he faced during his presidency, from personal attacks to national tragedies, and his accomplishments during his eight years in the Oval Office. "You always gave us the very best within you, and in doing so, you reminded the rest of us that we could too," she said. But the presidential center , Mrs. Obama said, was not just a tribute to a man, or an administration, or a presidency. Barack and I have always said that this center is grounded in our stories, but it has never been about us. It's never been for us," she said. …