President Donald Trump’s social media account briefly featured a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates, sparking widespread condemnation before the post was deleted Friday. The incident, occurring during Black History Month, has reignited scrutiny of Trump’s rhetoric and raised questions about oversight of his social media activity.
The post, initially appearing on Trump’s Truth Social account Thursday night, was quickly criticized by figures across the political spectrum. The White House initially dismissed the outrage as “fake,” according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt, but reversed course hours later, attributing the post to a staffer who “posted it erroneously.” This explanation has been met with skepticism, particularly given Trump’s frequent and direct engagement with his social media platform, often signing policy announcements with his initials.
The 62-second clip incorporated imagery from a conservative video alleging voter fraud in the 2020 election. At the 60-second mark, the faces of the Obamas were superimposed onto images of jungle primates. The origin of this imagery traces back to a previously circulated meme depicting Trump as “King of the Jungle” and Democratic leaders as various animals. Leavitt attempted to downplay the incident, describing it as originating from “an internet meme video.”
The incident comes amidst Trump’s continued propagation of false claims regarding the 2020 election, despite numerous court rulings and the findings of his own former attorney general confirming the absence of systemic fraud. This pattern of unsubstantiated claims, coupled with the racially charged imagery, has fueled concerns about the potential for further polarization and the erosion of public trust.
The response to the post was notably bipartisan. Senator Tim Scott, the sole Black Republican in the Senate, urged Trump to remove the post, stating, “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican representing Mississippi, called the post “totally unacceptable” and demanded an apology. Even some Republicans facing challenging reelection bids voiced concerns, signaling a rare break from the typical deference to Trump within the party.
Democrats were swift to condemn the post. Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke expressed disbelief in the White House’s explanation, suggesting a “toxic and racist climate” within the administration. NAACP President Derrick Johnson characterized the video as “utterly despicable” and linked it to broader concerns about Trump’s attempts to distract from economic challenges and scrutiny surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case.
This incident is not isolated. Trump has a documented history of racially charged rhetoric, including the promotion of the “birther” conspiracy theory questioning Barack Obama’s citizenship, crude generalizations about majority-Black countries, and the claim that immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country” – language echoing rhetoric used by Adolf Hitler. During his first term, he referred to several developing nations with large Black populations as “shithole countries,” a remark he later admitted to making.
The broader context of this incident lies within a long history of racist tropes in the United States, where Black individuals have been dehumanized through comparisons to animals. This practice dates back centuries and was used to justify slavery and subsequent discrimination. The imagery employed in Trump’s post draws upon this deeply rooted and harmful tradition.
The White House’s handling of the situation – initial defense followed by blame-shifting to a staffer – raises questions about the level of control Trump exerts over his social media account and the vetting process for posts. The president often uses his account to announce policy changes, levy import taxes, and even threaten military action, making the lack of transparency regarding post oversight particularly concerning.
The incident has prompted renewed calls for accountability and a more critical examination of the rhetoric employed by political leaders. While Trump stated he didn’t watch the entire video and claimed to have only seen the portion related to voter fraud, he stopped short of explicitly condemning the racist imagery. The long-term implications of this incident remain to be seen, but it underscores the ongoing challenges of addressing racism and misinformation in the political arena.
Mark Burns, a pastor and prominent Trump supporter, stated he spoke directly with Trump and advised him to fire the staffer responsible and publicly condemn the post. Trump reportedly acknowledged the inappropriateness of the imagery, though he has not issued a formal apology.
