Former President Joe Biden is encountering significant challenges raising money for his presidential library as potential donors remain upset about his reelection campaign decision.
Democratic insiders report that many donors are "furious" about Biden's attempt to run for a second term in his 80s, which ultimately resulted in Kamala Harris's defeat to Donald Trump. The fundraising difficulties have led to speculation that Biden's library may be substantially smaller than those of previous presidents, according to The Daily Mail.
Money that could have supported Biden's library project is being redirected toward Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterm elections instead. The respect many donors held for his decades of public service has been "squandered," according to Democratic sources.
A former White House official told reporters that dismay among Democrats remains strong and shows no signs of diminishing soon. The official characterized Biden's decision to seek reelection as selfish, suggesting he became intoxicated by the presidency's comfort and power.
Biden failed to surround himself with advisers willing to speak truth to power, according to critics within his own party. The former president bears ultimate responsibility for what many consider a reckless decision that disserved the country.
The level of anger among potential donors reflects broader Democratic frustration with how Biden handled his political future. Many believe his decision to run again at age 82 demonstrated poor judgment that cost the party the White House.
The Presidential Library system began in 1939 when Franklin D. Roosevelt donated his records to the government and supporters raised funds for a library. Since then, all presidents have established similar institutions, with Barack Obama's Chicago project setting a fundraising goal of $1.6 billion.
Obama's library has faced cost overruns and controversy but is expected to open next year as the most expensive presidential library ever built. Biden announced last month that his library will be constructed in Delaware, the state where he grew up and represented in the Senate for 36 years.
The Biden library aims to create an immersive museum showcasing his pandemic response, infrastructure policies, and international relations work. Board members include former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House adviser Steve Ricchetti.
Reports from the Biden camp suggest a goal of raising several hundred million dollars, though skepticism exists about achieving that target. Donor John Morgan, a Florida lawyer who previously contributed $1 million to Biden's campaign, jokingly suggested the library might end up as a bookmobile.
Republican critics have begun mocking Biden's library plans, with former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer suggesting he might get "a food truck for a presidential library." Some Democrats believe Biden should have started fundraising efforts earlier while still in office.
For comparison, Obama selected his library site before leaving office, while George H.W. Bush announced his Texas A&M location more than a year before his term ended. Biden waited eight months after leaving office to begin his fundraising campaign.
President Trump has already raised more money for his future library than Biden, despite having over three years remaining in his term. Funds from Trump's $239 million inauguration fundraising and a $15 million ABC News defamation settlement will support his library project.
Florida officials recently set aside nearly three acres of prime downtown Miami real estate as a potential Trump library site. The property, currently used as a Miami Dade College parking lot, sits on iconic Biscayne Boulevard overlooking waterfront parks.
Trump has indicated that a $400 million Air Force One replacement from Qatar will be donated to his library, similar to how Reagan's California library displays a former presidential aircraft. The Trump library foundation is led by trustees, including Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump's husband, Michael Boulos.