Former President Barack Obama has stepped back into the political spotlight, urging Americans to contact their congressional representatives and demand a “no” vote on President Donald Trump’s massive $3.3 trillion budget and health care proposal—a sweeping package that supporters have dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
With the legislation approaching a final vote in the House of Representatives, Obama took to social media to warn that the proposal could unravel key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and impose steep cuts to Medicaid, potentially affecting millions of low- and middle-income Americans.
Obama’s Call to Action
In a post shared Thursday morning on X (formerly Twitter), Obama wrote:
“More than 16 million Americans are at risk of losing their health care because Republicans in Congress are rushing to pass a bill that would cut federal funding for Medicaid and weaken the Affordable Care Act. If the House passes this bill, it will increase costs and hurt working-class families for generations to come. Call your representative today and tell them to vote no on this bill.”
Obama’s statement marks one of his most direct interventions in national politics in recent months, underscoring the bill’s high stakes and the widening partisan divide over health care and federal spending.
The former president’s comments quickly went viral, drawing praise from Democratic lawmakers and progressive groups while triggering backlash from conservative leaders who accuse him of misrepresenting the legislation.
A Heated Debate Over Trump’s Signature Agenda
The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” or BBB, is a centerpiece of President Trump’s domestic agenda, designed to overhaul health care spending, streamline welfare programs, and redirect federal funds toward infrastructure and defense.
Supporters claim the bill would cut waste, lower taxes, and modernize the nation’s health care and energy systems. Critics, however, warn it could lead to massive reductions in social programs and roll back protections established under the ACA.
“The president’s proposal represents the boldest reimagining of federal priorities in decades,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has spearheaded efforts to rally Republican support. “It delivers for American workers, secures our borders, and restores fiscal sanity.”
Democrats have painted a very different picture, arguing that the bill prioritizes corporations and the wealthy at the expense of everyday citizens.
“This bill is not about fiscal responsibility — it’s about political ambition,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “It dismantles health care protections, strips Medicaid funding, and deepens inequality.”
Hakeem Jeffries Launches Lengthy Filibuster
In an effort to delay the bill’s passage, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) took to the House floor just before dawn on Thursday, launching a marathon speech under what’s known as the “magic minute” rule — a procedural privilege that allows party leaders to speak for as long as they wish.
According to reports from Fox News Digital, Jeffries arrived carrying several thick binders, reading continuously for more than three hours. Lawmakers said his remarks could stretch well into the afternoon, potentially pushing the final vote back several hours.
“He’s using every second of his ‘magic minute,’” one GOP aide remarked. “But this won’t stop the inevitable — the votes are there.”
Jeffries’s speech echoed many of the same points made by Obama, warning that the Trump-backed legislation would “wreck the social safety net and hurt millions of Americans who depend on affordable care.”
Tight Vote in the House
Earlier in the day, the House narrowly voted 219 to 213 to adopt the rules for debate on the BBB measure, setting the stage for a final vote expected later Thursday.
All but one Republican — Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, a centrist known for occasionally breaking ranks — supported the procedural vote. Democrats uniformly opposed it.
House leadership said the bill’s passage would mark a major legislative victory for President Trump, who has promised sweeping economic reforms as part of his second-term agenda.
Republicans are advancing the bill using a process known as budget reconciliation, which allows them to bypass the Senate filibuster and pass major fiscal measures with a simple majority.
“This is our opportunity to rebuild America from the ground up — stronger, freer, and fairer,” Speaker Johnson said during a floor speech. “We’re cutting bureaucracy, empowering workers, and keeping promises that Washington has ignored for decades.”
Democrats Warn of Long-Term Consequences
Democratic leaders insist the proposal’s long-term effects could be devastating, particularly for low-income families and older Americans.
Independent policy analysts say the bill could reduce federal Medicaid spending by nearly $450 billion over the next decade, forcing states to scale back coverage or raise taxes to compensate. The proposal also seeks to revise key portions of the Affordable Care Act, giving states greater flexibility to design their own insurance marketplaces but with fewer federal safeguards.
“This is a slow-motion disaster for American health care,” said Dr. Lisa Hernandez, a health policy expert at Georgetown University. “While some states could innovate, others would see deep coverage losses. The result would be massive inequality between states.”
Public Response and Political Implications
Obama’s call to action appears to have galvanized many Democratic voters, with hashtags like #ProtectOurCare and #VoteNoOnBBB trending nationwide within hours of his post.
Advocacy groups have since launched coordinated efforts to flood congressional offices with calls, emails, and petitions opposing the measure.
“This is the same playbook that helped save the Affordable Care Act in 2017,” said Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. “People power works — and Obama knows exactly how to activate it.”
Still, Republicans remain confident that the bill will clear the House.
“The American people elected us to get results,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). “The days of Washington waste are over. This bill delivers on our promises.”
A Battle Over Legacy
For Obama, the renewed debate over health care carries personal significance. His 2010 Affordable Care Act — often referred to as “Obamacare” — remains one of the most consequential and controversial laws of the past generation.
Trump has made dismantling and replacing it a central goal of his administration, framing the BBB as a way to “fix” what he calls “a broken and bloated system.”
The renewed clash between the two leaders underscores the enduring power struggle over health care — a defining issue that continues to shape American politics fifteen years later.
What Comes Next
As of Thursday afternoon, the timing of the final vote on the Big Beautiful Bill remains uncertain, depending largely on how long Jeffries continues his floor speech.
If the measure passes, it will move to the Senate, where Democrats are expected to mount another vigorous fight. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has already pledged to use “every procedural tool available” to stop the legislation.
Whether Obama’s late intervention will sway enough lawmakers to change course remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the debate over health care — and over the size and role of government — continues to be one of the most explosive flashpoints in Washington.