Obama opens his center with a warning about America's future The former president defended the courts, the press and constitutional norms - drawing sharp contrasts with the Trump era. CHICAGO - President Donald Trump was conspicuously absent from Thursday's dedication of the Obama Presidential Center, the only living commander in chief not in attendance. But the Obamas made a point Thursday of delivering a pointed rebuke of the man who succeeded them in the White House - all while refusing to mention him by name.