Barack Obama just couldn’t resist taking a swing at Donald Trump on the Fourth of July, using a patriotic message to jab at the current administration’s policies.
Over the past week, the former president has unleashed a series of critiques targeting Trump’s leadership, from a controversial spending bill to the abrupt end of a decades-old humanitarian agency, all while warning that American democracy itself is under siege, Daily Mail reported.
Let’s rewind to Monday when Obama joined forces with former President George W. Bush and rock star Bono to mourn the termination of USAID, a key humanitarian outfit established by John F. Kennedy. This six-decade-old agency, which once provided over 40 percent of global humanitarian funding, was absorbed into the State Department on Tuesday under orders from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Turns out, even the most storied programs aren’t safe from the budget axe.
Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency targeted USAID for cuts, with staffers locked out of systems and terminated en masse via email. Obama, speaking to thousands in the USAID community during a closed-press videoconference, called the move a “travesty” and a “tragedy.” Well, when you’ve got a legacy of helping millions worldwide, a cold email dismissal does sting a bit.
“Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come,” Obama told the displaced staffers. If only kind words could pay the bills—many of these folks are now out of jobs while the State Department rolls out a replacement called “America First.”
Trump didn’t hold back either, branding USAID a “left-wing scam” and its staff as out-of-touch ideologues. Hard to argue with a push for oversight, but dismissing an entire agency as fraudulent might be a tad overzealous, even for those of us who cheer fiscal restraint.
Moving to Wednesday, Obama took to social media to blast Trump’s massive spending bill, which was signed into law on Friday afternoon. He warned that over 16 million Americans could lose healthcare access due to cuts in federal funding for Medicaid and a rollback of protections under the Affordable Care Act, his signature legislation.
“More than 16 million Americans are at risk,” Obama posted, urging folks to call their representatives. While concern for health care access is valid, let’s not pretend the system was perfect before—costs were already skyrocketing under his plan.
By Thursday, the Fourth of July, Obama doubled down with a pointed holiday message, hinting that democratic values are under attack. He criticized Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” in the same breath, tying it to broader fears about America’s direction. A bit dramatic for a barbecue day, don’t you think?
“America is not the project of any one person,” Obama declared in his social media post, emphasizing the power of “We” in phrases like “We The People.” Nice sentiment, but using Independence Day to score political points feels like a missed opportunity for unity.
He went further, claiming that at this moment, with cynicism and disengagement on the rise globally, democratic principles face constant threats. Fair enough to raise the alarm, but one wonders if the finger-pointing helps or just deepens the divide.
Obama’s public profile has been relatively quiet during Trump’s second term, with rare sightings at events like the inauguration and Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Breaking that silence now, with a flurry of criticism, suggests he’s picking his battles—or maybe just couldn’t resist the spotlight. Either way, the timing is no accident.
DailyMail.com reached out to the White House for a response to Obama’s sharp social media posts from Wednesday and Friday, but no comment has been forthcoming. Silence can speak volumes, though, and it’s likely the administration is too busy implementing its agenda to spar over tweets.
At the end of the day, this week’s clash shows two visions of America colliding—Obama’s call for collective ownership versus Trump’s push for streamlined, nationalist priorities.
Both sides have their merits, but using national holidays for potshots feels like a low blow, even if the policy debates are worth having. Let’s hope the next barbecue brings more burgers and less bickering.
