Prominent Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, have drawn criticism for their pessimistic messages on July 4, focusing on threats from the Trump administration rather than celebrating the nation’s founding. Harris’ post, which stated that ‘things are hard right now’ and might ‘get worse before they get better,’ sparked backlash, as did Obama’s remarks about ‘core democratic principles seem to be continuously under attack.’ Both figures faced mockery online, with some users highlighting Harris’ cropped photo of former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden in her post.
Biden himself issued a more measured message, while Sanders echoed anti-Trump sentiment with his ‘No to Kings’ reference, prompting responses from social media users questioning the comparison to a king. The reaction highlights a broader divide in how the nation’s founding is being interpreted and celebrated, with some seeing it as a call for unity and others as a rallying cry against perceived threats to democracy.
Obama’s post, which emphasized the power of the ‘We’ in democracy, drew both support and criticism. Some saw his words as a call for renewed civic engagement, while others felt it was an overstatement of current challenges. The incident reflects the polarized political climate in the US, where even the most public of holidays can become a forum for political expression and debate.