Trump Shares Racist Video Targeting Obama and Michelle, Faces Backlash

WASHINGTON: Using racist video that has long been used to demean individuals of African origin, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video on social media that shows Democratic former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.

Trump posted a minute-long video late Thursday that reinforced the Republican president of the United States’ unfounded allegations that fraud caused his 2020 election loss. An purportedly AI-generated film of dancing apes with the Obamas’ heads superimposed was spliced into the video.

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Prominent politicians quickly criticized the post, including Republican Senator Tim Scott, a Black Trump backer.

“Praying it was false because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott said on X. “The President should erase it.

Let it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying him as a stain on our history. https://t.co/zDMdFtESJ3

— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) February 6, 2026

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the post sparked “fake outrage,” adding that “this is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King.” Trump’s video featured a tune from that show.

A spokesman for the Obama family declined to comment.

For generations, white supremacists have represented individuals of African origin as monkeys in campaigns to demean and subjugate Black populations.

Trump has a history of promoting racist statements, including the baseless conspiracy idea that Barack Obama was not born in the United States.

In December, Trump called Somalis “garbage” who should be kicked out of the nation. Last year, he faced criticism for picturing Black House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries with a pasted handlebar mustache and sombrero.

Civil rights organizations claim Trump’s speech has gotten more daring, accepted, and politically acceptable.