Former President Barack Obama delivered a patriotic but pointed message on Independence Day that many saw as a direct jab at President Donald Trump.
In a July 4 post on social media, Obama reminded Americans that the country’s strength lies in its collective spirit—not in the hands of a single individual. Without naming Trump, the former president’s comments struck at the heart of what critics describe as Trump’s outsized ego and authoritarian leanings.
“Independence Day is a reminder that America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We the People.’ ‘We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can,’” Obama wrote. “America is owned by no one. It belongs to all citizens.”
He continued, warning against democratic backsliding both at home and abroad:
“At this moment in history—when core democratic principles seem to be continuously under attack, when too many people around the world have become cynical and disengaged—now is precisely the time to ask ourselves tough questions about how we can build our democracies and make them work in meaningful and practical ways for ordinary people.”
Obama’s message arrived amid growing concern about Trump’s rhetoric and conduct—particularly after Trump’s appearance at what was billed as a bipartisan July 4 rally in Des Moines, Iowa. Rather than unify, Trump used the occasion to lash out at Democrats, make inflammatory remarks, and boast about the passage of his controversial “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
“We’ve saved our country,” Trump told the crowd. “We got great marks in the first term, and this is going to blow it away.”
Trump’s July 4 remarks were widely criticized, especially after he reportedly used anti-Semitic language during the event and continued to stoke division instead of national unity.
The frosty relationship between Obama and Trump is no secret. Trump spent years attacking Obama—including pushing the debunked “birther” conspiracy—and the two have traded barbs both during and after their presidencies.
Earlier this week, Obama also appeared in a joint video with former President George W. Bush directed at staffers at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The two former presidents criticized Trump’s decision to dismantle key parts of the agency.
“Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy,” Obama said.
Bush added, “Is it in our national interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is—and so do you.”
Obama’s Independence Day message, laced with optimism and urgency, contrasted sharply with Trump’s more combative tone—serving as yet another chapter in the ongoing clash between the former and current presidents.
