For their last day in the White House, now former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama released a video teasing their post-presidency plans, and asking viewers to suggest ideas.
Then Barack announces, "we want to invite you to help us with just one of the projects we're excited to work on when we get back ... our future presidential center. The center will be based on the South Side of Chicago, but it will have projects all over the city, the country, and the world."
"That's why we want to hear from you," Barack offers. "Tell us what you want this project to be." "Send us your ideas, your hopes, your beliefs about what we can achieve together," Michelle chimes in. "This will be your presidential center just as much as it will be ours."
They end with a smile, a slightly pained and wistful smile, and a promise to "see all of you again soon."
Barack and Michelle Ask For Your Ideas
The video from the Obama Foundation features the two detailing what they are going to do next. Michelle begins, "First, we're going to take a little break. We're finally going to get some sleep, and take some time to be with our family, and just be still for a little bit."Then Barack announces, "we want to invite you to help us with just one of the projects we're excited to work on when we get back ... our future presidential center. The center will be based on the South Side of Chicago, but it will have projects all over the city, the country, and the world."
"That's why we want to hear from you," Barack offers. "Tell us what you want this project to be." "Send us your ideas, your hopes, your beliefs about what we can achieve together," Michelle chimes in. "This will be your presidential center just as much as it will be ours."
Barack Tries to Buck Up Saddened Supporters
Barack, without mentioning the despair his supporters feel about the Trump presidency, ends with plea for continuing participation in democracy: "True democracy is a project that is much bigger than any one of us. It's bigger than any one person, any one president, any one government. It's a job for all of us ... the work of perfecting our union is never finished."They end with a smile, a slightly pained and wistful smile, and a promise to "see all of you again soon."