The fallout continues after former President Donald Trump shared, and then removed, a video from his Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The incident, which occurred late Thursday and sparked immediate backlash, underscores a deeply troubling pattern and raises questions about the vetting process for content posted on the platform.
The video, initially presented as supporting claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, concluded with the racially charged imagery. According to reports, the clip featured the Obamas’ faces superimposed onto cartoon apes, set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” It also depicted other prominent Democrats, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as various animals, with Trump himself portrayed as a lion and the animals bowing before him.
Trump’s initial response to the controversy was defiant. Speaking to reporters on Friday night, he stated, I didn’t make a mistake
and claimed he had only seen the beginning of the video before it was posted by a staff member. He added, I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine.
He maintained he didn’t see the full video, which contained the offensive imagery.
The White House initially attempted to downplay the situation, describing the video as an internet meme video
and urging critics to stop the fake outrage.
However, the response was widely condemned, even from within the Republican party. Senator Tim Scott, who is Black, called it the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.
The pressure mounted, leading to the video’s removal from Trump’s Truth Social account.
A White House official subsequently stated that a staffer had erroneously
posted the video. Trump, when questioned about the staffer responsible and potential disciplinary action, remained evasive. He focused instead on the initial content of the video, reiterating its focus on his unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. I looked in the first part and it was really about voter fraud in, and the machines, how crooked it is, how disgusting it is,
he said. Then I gave it to the people. Generally, they’d look at the whole thing. But I guess somebody didn’t, and they posted.
The origins of the racist clip can be traced back to an X post shared by conservative meme creator Xerias in October. This highlights the role of online content creators in disseminating potentially harmful material and the challenges platforms face in monitoring such content. The video’s reappearance in Trump’s post raises concerns about the amplification of racist tropes and the normalization of such imagery within political discourse.
The incident is particularly jarring given the historical context of racist caricatures comparing Black people to apes. These depictions have a long and painful history in the United States, rooted in systemic racism and used to dehumanize and oppress Black communities. The use of such imagery, even framed as a “meme,” is deeply offensive and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
Hollywood has also begun to respond to the video. reports indicate widespread condemnation within the entertainment industry, though specific statements from individual actors and studios are still emerging. The incident is likely to fuel ongoing conversations about the responsibility of public figures and platforms to combat racism and hate speech.
The Obamas have not yet publicly commented on the video. Their silence is notable, and any future statement from them is likely to carry significant weight. The lack of an immediate response, however, doesn’t diminish the severity of the situation or the widespread outrage it has generated.
This incident is not isolated. It follows a pattern of controversial posts and statements from Trump that have been criticized as racially insensitive or outright racist. The fact that the video was initially defended by the White House before being removed after significant backlash underscores the complexities of navigating political correctness and public perception in the current media landscape.
The long-term implications of this incident remain to be seen. It is likely to further polarize the political climate and fuel debates about the role of social media in spreading misinformation and hate speech. It also raises questions about the judgment of those responsible for managing Trump’s social media accounts and the need for more rigorous vetting procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the power of imagery and the importance of confronting racism in all its forms.
