Former President Barack Obama faced widespread backlash over the weekend for his July 4th message that many critics say lacked any expression of national pride or traditional patriotism, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The former president shared the statement on Independence Day, prompting strong reactions across social media and from citizens who took issue with the tone and timing of his comments.

WASHINGTON D.C., USA – Sep 18, 2014: United States President Barack Obama during an official meeting with the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Washington, DC (USA)

In a post to his X account on Friday, Obama wrote:

“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.’ America is owned by no one. It belongs to all citizens.”

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He continued, “And 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.”

The former president did not mention America’s founding, the Declaration of Independence, or the significance of July 4th in his message. He instead focused on broader themes of democracy and civic engagement, which many users felt missed the moment entirely.

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The backlash came swiftly, with many users accusing Obama of delivering a message more appropriate for a political lecture than a national holiday celebrating American freedom and independence.

“A ‘core democratic principle’ Barack Obama and his Administration consistently violated was the freedom of the press and free speech, which is why George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Founding Fathers enshrined that as the very First Amendment, ‘Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech,’ said Benjamin Franklin,” one user posted.

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Another wrote, “Nope. Independence Day is a celebration of the Americans who declared independence from Great Britain. Universalizing alleged lessons is a left-wing revolutionary project.”

Obama has a history of marking national holidays with broad political messaging, though critics argue his statement this year was especially out of step with the patriotic spirit associated with Independence Day.

The statement sparked debates online over whether national holidays should be used for political discourse, particularly when it omits mention of American values, historical sacrifice, or national pride.

Obama has not responded to the criticism.