US President Donald Trump faced widespread backlash after a video shared on his Truth Social account briefly depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The clip appeared at the end of a longer video promoting debunked claims about the 2020 US election. The post triggered criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, including key Trump allies, leading to its removal.
Trump later said he had not seen the full video before it was posted and insisted he would not apologise, while the White House attributed the post to a staffer’s error and dismissed criticism as “fake outrage.”
Key Takeaways from the Trump–Obama Video Controversy and Political Backlash
- Donald Trump shared a video on Truth Social that briefly depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, sparking national controversy.
- The clip appeared at the end of a longer video repeating debunked claims about the 2020 election and Dominion Voting Systems.
- The White House initially defended the post as an internet meme before later saying a staffer had posted it in error.
- Trump said he did not watch the full video and refused to apologise, though he said he condemned racism.
- The video drew bipartisan criticism, including from Republican Senator Tim Scott, who called it the most racist thing he had seen from the White House.
- The controversy coincided with renewed scrutiny of Trump’s approval ratings and political messaging on social media.
How the Video Was Posted and Why It Sparked Controversy
The controversy began late Thursday night when Donald Trump shared a 62-second video on his Truth Social platform. The video largely focused on unsubstantiated claims that voting machines were manipulated during the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden.
Near the end of the clip, for approximately one second, images appeared showing Barack Obama and Michelle Obama with their faces superimposed on the bodies of apes while the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played. The imagery quickly drew criticism due to the long history of racist caricatures comparing Black people to monkeys or apes.
The video was later removed following intense backlash from political leaders, civil rights figures and social media users.
Trump’s Response: Says He Did Not See the Ending
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had only watched the beginning of the video before it was posted and was unaware of the imagery at the end.
“I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine,” he said, explaining that the video’s initial focus was on voter fraud claims. Trump added that he condemns the racist portion of the clip but insisted he would not apologise, saying he did not make a mistake.
According to the White House, a staff member had “erroneously” posted the video. Officials said the post was removed once the issue was identified. Trump also said that if staff had watched the entire video, it likely would not have been posted.
White House Defence and Changing Explanation
In its initial response, the White House dismissed criticism as exaggerated, describing the clip as part of an internet meme portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle” and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt urged critics to “stop the fake outrage.”
Later, however, officials clarified that a staffer was responsible for posting the video in error, and the content was removed from the president’s account.
The meme video itself circulated online and reportedly depicted multiple political figures as animals, including Democrats such as Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Hakeem Jeffries, with Trump portrayed as a lion.
Bipartisan Backlash and Political Reactions
The video drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Republican Senator Tim Scott, a longtime Trump ally, described it as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and called for its removal. Republican lawmakers including Mike Lawler, Roger Wicker and Pete Ricketts also said the post was offensive and should be deleted with an apology.
Democratic leaders responded strongly as well. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the post “disgusting behaviour,” while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries described it as offensive and harmful. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic figures also condemned the imagery.
Civil rights leaders pointed to the historical context of such depictions, noting their association with racist stereotypes used to dehumanise Black people.
Online Reaction and Wider Political Impact
The controversy quickly spread across social media, where supporters and critics debated the full context of the video. Some conservative commentators shared the complete meme video in defence of Trump, arguing that it portrayed multiple politicians as animals. Critics, however, focused on the specific imagery involving the Obamas and its racial implications.
The incident also coincided with renewed attention on Trump’s approval ratings. Several polling organisations reported higher disapproval ratings compared to approval figures during the same period, with analysts linking the controversy to broader political debates surrounding Trump’s messaging and social media use.
A Political Controversy Reflecting Deep Divisions in American Politics
The episode underscores how social media content shared by political leaders can quickly escalate into national controversy, especially when it intersects with race and historical sensitivities. While the video was removed and the White House attributed the post to an internal error, criticism continued even after its deletion.
The incident also highlighted divisions within Trump’s own party, as several Republican lawmakers publicly criticised the post. At the same time, Trump maintained that he had not seen the offensive portion and stood by his decision not to apologise.
As debates around political messaging, race and online communication continue, the controversy has become another flashpoint in an already polarised political environment in the United States.
FAQs on Trump Obama Video Controversy and Truth Social Racism Row
1. Why did Donald Trump delete the video showing the Obamas as apes?
The video was removed after bipartisan backlash over racist imagery depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, with the White House later saying a staffer mistakenly posted it.
2. What did Donald Trump say about the controversial video?
Trump said he did not watch the full video before posting, condemned the racist portion, and stated he would not apologise because he believed he did not make a mistake.
3. What was shown in the Trump Truth Social video?
The video promoted debunked 2020 election fraud claims and briefly showed the Obamas’ faces on ape bodies at the end while the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played.
4. Who criticised Trump over the Obama video controversy?
Criticism came from Democrats and Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott, Gavin Newsom, Hakeem Jeffries, and other lawmakers who called the imagery offensive and unacceptable.
5. Did the White House respond to the backlash over the video?
Yes, the White House initially called the criticism fake outrage and later clarified that a staffer had posted the video in error before it was removed.
