Former President Joe Biden’s dream of a presidential library in Delaware is hitting a financial brick wall. While the idea of cementing his legacy in his home state sounds noble, the fundraising team is finding that Democratic donors aren’t exactly lining up to write checks.
Breitbart reported that Biden has picked Delaware for his library, assembled a team of loyalists to spearhead fundraising, and faces a steep climb due to a divided Democratic Party, reluctant donors, and sharp criticism from President Donald Trump that’s spooking potential contributors.
Starting at the beginning, Biden’s decision to place his library in Delaware isn’t surprising given his deep roots there.
No specific spot has been announced yet, though Wilmington officials have pitched four potential locations in his hometown. It’s a fitting gesture, but location is the least of the worries right now.
A dedicated group of former aides, friends, and political allies has been tapped to lead this effort. Just this week, the Joe and Jill Biden Foundation greenlit a 13-member board to oversee the project, including heavyweights like former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, adviser Steve Ricchetti, and Democrat fundraiser Rufus Gifford as chairman. Sounds impressive, but can they rally the funds?
Speaking of Gifford, he’s already tempering expectations with a cautious tone: “There are certainly folks… starting to think about them.”
Translation: even the chairman knows convincing donors is like selling ice in a blizzard. While he avoids setting a firm budget they can’t meet, this hesitancy hints at deeper cracks in donor confidence.
Those cracks aren’t just random—they’re tied to a Democratic Party that’s more fragmented than a shattered windshield.
Major donors are dragging their feet, and who can blame them when the political left is a mess of competing agendas? Add in Trump’s daily jabs at Biden, and corporations and institutions are likely thinking twice before signing on.
Trump isn’t just tossing verbal grenades; his relentless critique of Biden and progressive groups is a real deterrent. It’s no secret that corporate donors hate controversy, and with Trump turning up the heat, they might see this library as a lightning rod not worth touching. It’s a classic case of politics scaring off pragmatists.
Meanwhile, the cost of these presidential libraries isn’t pocket change. Historical figures paint a daunting picture—George H.W. Bush’s library cost $43 million back in 1997, Bill Clinton’s hit $165 million, George W. Bush’s soared to $500 million, and the Obama Foundation aims for a staggering $1.6 billion.
Biden’s team expects costs “somewhere in the middle” of Obama’s and Bush’s, potentially flirting with a billion dollars—yikes.
Compare that to Trump, who’s already banking funds for his own future library. With millions from lawsuits against media giants and a $16 million settlement specifically earmarked from a CBS case, he’s playing chess while others play checkers.
Oh, and let’s not forget the $400 million Qatari jet he’s accepted, set to be displayed at his library like Reagan’s 707—talk about a head start.
Biden’s supporters are banking on his sunny disposition to turn the tide. The National Archives web page for his library features a photo of him in the Oval Office and an upbeat quote: “We are the United States… nothing beyond our capacity.” Inspiring words, sure, but can they translate to cold, hard cash?
Let’s be real—those words sound great on a website, but they won’t pay the bills. At 82, Biden’s optimism is admirable, yet it’s hard to ignore that fundraising for a project this massive requires more than hope—it needs unity and enthusiasm the Democrats currently lack. It’s a noble vision meeting a harsh reality.
Presidential libraries, overseen by the National Archives’ Office of Presidential Libraries, are more than just buildings; they’re symbols of a leader’s legacy.
Right now, Biden’s exists only as a digital placeholder, a far cry from the brick-and-mortar tribute his team envisions. That gap between idea and execution is where the real battle lies.
So, what’s the bottom line? The Biden library project in Delaware is a heartfelt endeavor facing a fundraising mountain that even the most seasoned climbers might balk at. It’s not just about money—it’s about convincing a fractured party and wary donors to buy into a vision under constant fire.
Contrast this with Trump’s early moves, and the disparity is stark. While Biden’s team scrambles for support, Trump’s already stacking resources and symbolic wins like that jumbo jet. It’s a reminder that in politics, timing and perception often outweigh sentiment.