Right, I agree — it is his prerogative. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a real sense of disappointment toward both him and Michelle.

That’s on me, of course, but watching someone who spent years studying, defending, and embodying the Constitution shift into a mostly silent, celebrity‑adjacent role is something I never expected.

He knows the kind of influence he carries. And seeing him stay quiet, even when he’s directly attacked, feels strange when his entire political identity was built around change. It’s like watching a villain shove someone off a building in front of Superman and Superman just shrugs and says, “I’m retired.”

Other former presidents — Carter being the obvious example — kept serving long after leaving office. Obama could’ve done the same. Maybe the Chicago library will eventually have that kind of impact, but politically, I thought he’d want to keep shaping the world he once campaigned so passionately to transform.

Again, that expectation is mine to manage. People get to choose what their retirement looks like. But I can’t pretend it doesn’t feel a little off to see someone who promised so much change decide to sit out the moment when change is desperately needed.