Obama Urges Action as Trump’s $3.3 Trillion Megabill Nears Final Vote in House

Former President Barack Obama has stepped back into the political spotlight, urging Americans to voice opposition to President Donald Trump’s sweeping $3.3 trillion legislative package. As the House of Representatives inches closer to a final vote, Obama is appealing directly to citizens to contact their representatives and demand they reject the bill, which he warns could severely impact health care access and working-class families for years to come.

“Over 16 million Americans are at risk of losing their health coverage if this bill passes,” Obama wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Congress is moving too fast, and the result will be devastating cuts to Medicaid and erosion of the Affordable Care Act. Costs will rise, and the burden will fall hardest on those already struggling. Call your representative now and tell them to vote no.”

The legislation, touted by Trump as a transformative step for America’s economy and national strength, has been dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” by its Republican supporters. It includes significant tax cuts, increased military funding, changes to Medicaid financing, and a range of economic measures aimed at boosting wages and domestic investment. The bill passed a major hurdle early Thursday morning with a narrow rule vote—setting the stage for a full House vote within hours.

However, the path to passage remains uncertain.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., launched a filibuster-style floor speech just before 5 a.m. Thursday, using a procedural tool known as the “magic minute,” which allows party leaders to speak for an unlimited amount of time. With several large binders in hand, Jeffries spoke for hours, methodically reading prepared remarks in an effort to delay proceedings and rally his caucus against the bill.

One Republican member told reporters that Jeffries appeared ready to continue for much of the day, suggesting the final vote may be pushed into the afternoon or beyond.

The early morning vote—often referred to as a “rule vote”—was narrowly adopted in a 219–213 tally. Only one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, voted against it. The vote enables the House to move forward with debate and eventually vote on the bill itself.

Although Republicans control the House and are using the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to bypass Democratic opposition, divisions within their own ranks nearly derailed the vote. A group of five GOP lawmakers had signaled their intent to block the bill entirely, while several members of the conservative Freedom Caucus considered abstaining from the vote in protest of certain compromises made in the final version.

Behind the scenes, Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., were engaged in hours of negotiation with Republican holdouts. By Thursday morning, those efforts appeared to have paid off, as the rule vote succeeded by a razor-thin margin.

Still, Democrats are doing everything within their power to slow the process. Without the votes to stop the legislation outright, procedural maneuvers and floor speeches are their primary tools. Similar delay tactics were used when the House initially passed the bill back in May, also by a single vote.

The Senate has already passed its version of the package, with some key differences, including a revised approach to Medicaid cost-sharing and certain tax policies. Trump, however, emphasized that the distinctions between chambers no longer matter, calling the bill a bipartisan win for the country.

“This is no longer a House or Senate bill,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It’s America’s bill. Everyone got something important, but the real winner is the American people—lower taxes, bigger paychecks, stronger borders, and a military that commands respect around the world.”

He continued, urging House Republicans to present a united front: “Ignore the grandstanders—yes, you know who you are—and deliver this to my desk. Let’s get this done before July 4th so that families across the country can celebrate a future that’s brighter and more secure.”

Despite the president’s optimism, Democrats remain resolute in their opposition, with Jeffries and his allies painting the bill as reckless and harmful to vulnerable communities. They argue that cuts to Medicaid and changes to tax structures will widen inequality, hurt low-income families, and undermine decades of progress in health care access.

As the House braces for a final vote, the nation watches closely. Will Trump’s ambitious megabill pass into law, or will last-minute dissent—both within the GOP and among Democrats—derail what could be a defining legislative moment of his presidency?

One thing is certain: with voices like Obama’s reentering the fray and Jeffries fighting to the last minute on the House floor, the outcome remains anything but guaranteed.