'Call your representative, tell them to vote no': Obama urges Americans to block Trump’s ‘megabill’ as House faces tense showdown

Former US president Barack Obama has urged Americans to call their representatives and oppose President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, warning it could strip health care from millions and raise costs for working families.

“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,” Obama posted on X. “Call your representative today and tell them to vote no on this bill," the post read.

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…

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 2, 2025

His call comes as Republican leaders in the House scramble to hold a vote on the controversial legislation by Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline. The GOP is seeking to capitalise on momentum after the bill narrowly cleared the Senate, where Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote Tuesday following a 27-hour vote-a-rama.

The House is currently voting on a rule to begin debate on  Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill,” but momentum has slowed. The floor remained open for over seven hours on an earlier procedural measure, as Republican leaders struggled to secure enough backing from within their own ranks. The delay follows Senate revisions to the bill that angered several House conservatives, deepening divisions over the path forward.

What’s inside Trump’s 'big, beautiful bill'?

The proposed legislation is one of the most consequential fiscal packages in recent history, combining roughly $4.5 trillion in tax cuts with deep spending reductions in health and social welfare programmes.

Major tax cuts:

Extends Trump-era tax cuts permanently

No taxes on tips and overtime pay

New deductions: $6,000 for older adults earning under $75,000

Boosts child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200 (though low-income families won’t see full benefit)

SALT deduction cap raised from $10,000 to $40,000 for five years

Allows businesses to immediately write off 100% of equipment and research expenses

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the wealthiest households would see an average benefit of $12,000 annually, while the poorest Americans could lose $1,600.

Cuts to Medicaid and food aid:

To offset revenue loss, the bill proposes steep cuts to safety net programmes:

New work requirements (80 hours/month) for Medicaid and food stamp recipients, including adults up to age 65

Parents of children 14 and older must meet work rules

Introduction of a $35 Medicaid co-payment

Cuts affect working-age adults who Republicans argue were not the original targets of such assistance

Middle-income earners would receive a tax cut ranging between $500 and $1,500, per CBO estimates.

Funding Trump’s border and defence agenda:

$350 billion for border and national security

$46 billion for the US-Mexico border wall

$45 billion for migrant detention beds (targeting 1 million deportations annually)

$10,000 signing bonuses for 10,000 new ICE officers

$10 billion in grants to states helping with deportations

New fees imposed on immigrants seeking asylum

$25 billion for the Golden Dome missile defence system

$1 billion earmarked by the Pentagon for border security

The bill has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and several moderate Republicans concerned about its potential to balloon the deficit and undermine key public programmes.