Obamaâs Independence Day Message Seen as Subtle Rebuke of Trumpâs âBig Beautiful Billâ
Former President Barack Obamaâs Fourth of July message sparked widespread speculation that he was taking aimâquietly but pointedlyâat Donald Trumpâs newly passed spending bill. The legislation, dubbed the âbig, beautiful billâ by Trump, narrowly passed the House on July 3 by a 218-214 vote and is projected to add $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.
The nearly 1,000-page bill delivers tax cuts Trump promised during his 2024 campaign but also slashes funding for healthcare and food safetyâmoves critics say will hurt millions of Americans.
Before the vote, Obama urged citizens to act, warning: âOver 16 million Americans could lose their healthcare⌠If the House passes this bill, it will drive up costs and damage working families for generations.â
On Independence Day, he posted a message centered on democracy and unity:
âAmerica isnât owned by any one individualâit belongs to everyone.â
He emphasized, âThe most powerful word in our democracy is âWeâ⌠âWe the People.ââ
Many saw this as a direct contrast to Trumpâs self-branded policies and growing centralization of political messaging. Social media lit up with support:
âThat lineââAmerica belongs to all citizensââreally hit home,â one user said.
For millions disillusioned by the billâs passage, Obamaâs words served as both a call to action and a balm for the moment.

