Obama seemingly makes subtle dig at Donald Trump in 4th July message

After Donald Trump signed his “big, beautiful bill” on Friday, many believe Barack Obama’s Independence Day message was a veiled criticism of the former president.

The bill, passed narrowly in Congress on July 3 with a 218-214 vote, is nearly 1,000 pages long and will add approximately $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, which currently stands at $36.2 trillion.

Key components of the bill include tax cuts Trump had promised during his 2024 campaign, as well as reductions in federal spending on health and food safety programs.

Prior to the vote, Obama had urged Americans to contact their representatives and push for a “no” vote, warning that the bill could strip health care from over 16 million people by slashing Medicaid and weakening the Affordable Care Act.

He stated the bill would raise costs and negatively affect working-class families for generations, emphasizing the importance of protecting health care access.

On July 4, following the bill’s approval, Obama posted a message reflecting on American democracy, stressing that the country belongs to all its citizens—not any one person—and that now is a critical moment to reflect on and strengthen democratic values.

Many interpreted Obama’s comments as a subtle jab at Trump and praised him for his hopeful message. Social media users expressed concern about the bill’s impact while thanking Obama for his continued encouragement.