Obama’s Independence Day Message Seen as Subtle Rebuke of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”

Former President Barack Obama’s Fourth of July message sparked widespread speculation that he was taking aim—quietly but pointedly—at Donald Trump’s newly passed spending bill. The legislation, dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” 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 safety—moves critics say will hurt millions of Americans.

Before the vote, Obama urged citizens to act, warning: “Over 16 million Americans could lose their healthcare… If the House passes this bill, it will drive up costs and damage working families for generations.”

On Independence Day, he posted a message centered on democracy and unity:
“America isn’t owned by any one individual—it belongs to everyone.”
He emphasized, “The most powerful word in our democracy is ‘We’… ‘We the People.’”

Many saw this as a direct contrast to Trump’s self-branded policies and growing centralization of political messaging. Social media lit up with support:
“That line—‘America belongs to all citizens’—really hit home,” one user said.

For millions disillusioned by the bill’s passage, Obama’s words served as both a call to action and a balm for the moment.