Donald Trump has sparked significant controversy by sharing a video on his Truth Social account that depicts former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates. The video, which features deeply racist imagery, was posted late on February 8, 2024, and quickly drew widespread condemnation from both sides of the political spectrum before being deleted the following day.
The video in question intertwines conspiracy theories about the 2020 election with a short clip portraying the Obamas as apes, set to the tune of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Analysts have pointed out that the video appears to be part of a longer, AI-generated work originally shared on social media platform X in October 2023, titled “President Trump: King of the Jungle.” This longer version depicted various Democratic figures as animals, with Trump represented as a lion.
Historians and experts have noted that likening Black individuals to apes is rooted in a long history of racism, dating back to the 18th century. Phillip Atiba Solomon, a lead author of a study on discrimination and animal comparisons, stated, “Such dehumanization and animal imagery have been used for centuries to justify violence against many oppressed groups.” This historical context adds weight to the criticism surrounding the video.
After facing backlash, Trump defended his actions while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, asserting he had only viewed the “first part” of the video. He claimed ignorance regarding the offensive imagery included in the latter portion. “I didn’t see the whole thing,” Trump said. “I guess toward the end of it, there was some kind of a picture that people don’t like, I wouldn’t like it either.” Despite acknowledging the criticism, he refused to apologize, stating, “No. I didn’t make a mistake.”
Initially, the White House dismissed the backlash, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterizing the criticism as “fake outrage.” She described the post as stemming from an internet meme and called for the media to focus on more pressing issues affecting the American public. However, after bipartisan criticism, the White House later stated that a staff member had mistakenly made the post and confirmed its removal.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, a Republican, labeled the video “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” His sentiments were echoed by other lawmakers, including Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, who stated that even if the video was meant as a joke, a reasonable person could recognize its racist context. Republican Representative Mike Lawler of New York condemned the video as “wrong and incredibly offensive.”
Even after its deletion, Republican legislators continued to express outrage. Senator John Curtis from Utah called the post “blatantly racist and inexcusable,” emphasizing that it should not have been published or allowed to remain online for as long as it did.
As of now, neither Barack nor Michelle Obama has made a public statement regarding the incident. The controversy surrounding the video raises questions about the vetting processes for content shared on Trump’s social media platforms, particularly given the timing of the post during Black History Month. The incident has not only highlighted ongoing racial tensions but also the political landscape in which such divisive imagery can be shared without apparent accountability.
