Delaware may soon be home to the official Joe Biden Presidential Library, but the path to making it a reality looks uncertain at best. Unlike the smooth fundraising machines that powered past presidential libraries, Biden’s project is already showing signs of strain.
According to the Associated Press, a team of Biden loyalists—former aides, political allies, and longtime friends—has been assembled to manage fundraising and scout possible sites.
Wilmington officials have floated four potential locations, but no final decision has been made. For now, the “library” exists only as a barebones National Archives webpage, featuring a smiling Biden portrait and a boilerplate quote on unity.
The real challenge is money. Modern presidential libraries don’t come cheap. George H.W. Bush’s cost $43 million in 1997. Bill Clinton’s ballooned to $165 million. George W. Bush’s soared to $500 million. And Barack Obama’s library shattered records with a $1.6 billion price tag. By those standards, Biden’s effort could easily approach the billion-dollar threshold.
But Democratic donors aren’t rushing to open their wallets. Party factions remain fractured, major funders are cautious, and Biden’s shaky exit from the political stage has left many questioning whether a billion-dollar monument is a wise investment.
The sting of persistent criticism from President Trump—who regularly seizes on Biden’s missteps as evidence of failure—only adds to the hesitation.
To oversee the venture, the Joe and Jill Biden Foundation has formed a 13-member board that includes Secretary of State Antony Blinken, senior adviser Steve Ricchetti, and seasoned fundraiser Rufus Gifford, who will chair the group. Gifford has promised fundraising goals that are “ambitious but realistic.” Whether cautious donors see it that way remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Trump is far ahead in planning his own presidential library, and the contrast is stark. Flush with millions in settlement money—including $16 million from CBS in the 60 Minutes election interference case—Trump has momentum. He has even secured a jumbo jet donated by Qatar, a centerpiece that will dwarf anything his rivals might display.
For Biden, the stakes go beyond bricks and mortar. A presidential library is meant to secure a legacy, offering a narrative for history to absorb. But with the Democratic Party divided, donor enthusiasm muted, and Trump framing the contrast at every turn, the Biden library project already looks more like an uphill slog than a victory lap.
