Which two former U.S. presidents became honorary national co-chairs of the America250 commission?

George W. Bush and Barack Obama became honorary national co-chairs of the America250 commission.

The Semiquincentennial Commission announced the appointment on August 1, 2024. The arrangement brought together two former presidents from different political parties to lend bipartisan visibility to the national commemoration.

Their spouses, former first ladies Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, were also announced as honorary national co-chairs. These honorary roles were distinct from the commission’s operating leadership, including its chair and chief executive.

The appointment is easy to mix up with the commission’s formal membership. Honorary national co-chairs serve as prominent representatives of the commemoration, whereas commissioners are the people appointed to the statutory federal body created by Congress.