Trump’s Truth Social video depicting Obamas as apes sparks outrage

President Donald Trump is facing widespread outrage after posting a video on his Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.

Racist Video Depicting Obamas as Apes Sparks Outrage

The 62‑second clip, posted on Thursday, included digitally altered images of politicians and celebrities set to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” It also promoted false claims that voting machines helped steal the 2020 election, allegations that have been long rejected by state officials, federal judges, and Trump’s own Justice Department, per CNN.

Video Shows Politicians as Animals

The video portrays Kamala Harris as a tortoise, Hakeem Jeffries as a meerkat, Whoopi Goldberg as a hippopotamus, and Trump as a lion. Near the end, the Obamas’ faces appear on the bodies of apes for about one second as the song begins.

Truth Social Post Removed After Bipartisan Pressure

Trump’s Truth Social account deleted the video Friday morning following intense backlash. NBC News reported that the clip had been uploaded twice before it was removed, although it remains unclear who created the video.

The White House initially defended the post. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed criticism as “fake outrage” and described the clip as a harmless meme portraying Trump as “King of the Jungle.”

Reverse course

Hours later, the White House reversed course. Officials said the video had been “erroneously posted” by a staffer and removed once senior aides became aware of it.

Lawmakers and Public Officials Condemn the Video

Condemnation spread quickly across Congress and national advocacy groups, with many saying the video crossed clear moral and political lines.

Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, issued a statement scrutinizing the post. He wrote on X:

“Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”

Other Republicans also criticized the video, saying racist depictions have no place in national politics. Democratic lawmakers called the clip dangerous and dehumanizing, NBC News reported.

Historical Context: Racist Ape Imagery in America

Racist depictions comparing Black people to apes have a long and violent history in the United States. Scholars note that the trope emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, when white supremacist writers and pseudoscientists falsely claimed that people of African descent were biologically closer to primates.

During the Jim Crow era, newspapers, postcards, and political cartoons frequently used ape imagery to mock and dehumanize Black Americans. Civil rights organizations have documented how these images fueled mob violence and shaped public policy.

The comparison resurfaced in attacks on prominent Black figures, including racist caricatures targeting Barack and Michelle Obama during their time in the White House.

The Obamas have not responded to the racist video.