On Chicago’s South Side, a star-studded ceremony formally dedicated the Obama Presidential Center, drawing former presidents, heads of state, and celebrities to the lakefront park. Among the notable guests was former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who maintained a well-documented friendship with Barack Obama during their overlapping tenures in office. According to Der Spiegel, Merkel is herself part of the museum’s exhibition — a testament to the transatlantic relationship the two leaders cultivated.
The event served as a backdrop for contemporary politics as well, with Vance using the occasion to tout the Iran deal before the assembled dignitaries.
