Trump Posts Racist Meme Of The Obamas, Then Deletes It After Backlash
President Donald Trump is facing renewed criticism after posting and then deleting a racially offensive clip that has since circulated widely online.
The post, now commonly referred to as the trump obama monkey video, appeared on Trump’s Truth Social account during the first week of Black History Month.
The video included a short segment showing former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama depicted as apes, imagery long associated with racist stereotypes used to dehumanize Black people.
Although the post was removed within hours, screenshots and recordings quickly spread across social media, sparking backlash from lawmakers, civil rights groups, and members of Trump’s own party.
White House Says trump obama monkey video Was a Mistake
The White House said the video was posted in error. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed a staff member for “erroneously” sharing the clip and urged critics to “stop the fake outrage.”
Leavitt claimed the segment came from a longer internet meme that portrayed Trump as a “king of the jungle” while various Democrats were shown as animals, referencing characters from The Lion King.
However, the version posted by Trump did not include that broader context and focused solely on the Obamas in a way many viewers found explicitly racist.
The White House did not issue an apology to the Obamas or directly address why such imagery was deemed acceptable to post in the first place.
Swift and Broad Condemnation
Reaction was immediate. Civil rights groups condemned the video as racist and demeaning, noting that comparisons of Black people to apes have historically been used to justify slavery, segregation, and violence.
Several Democratic lawmakers accused Trump of intentionally inflaming racial tensions. More notably, criticism also came from within Republican ranks.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, a Republican and one of the most prominent Black conservatives in the country, said he hoped the post was fake.
“This is the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott said. “The president should remove it.”
Other Republicans avoided directly criticizing Trump but expressed discomfort with the imagery and its timing.
Part of a Broader Pattern
The incident has renewed scrutiny of Trump’s past remarks involving race. Trump previously promoted the false claim that Obama was not born in the United States, a conspiracy that followed Obama throughout his presidency. Moreover, he has previously used derogatory language when referring to African nations
More recently, Trump falsely suggested that former Vice President Kamala Harris “turned Black” for political reasons despite Harris identifying as both Black and Indian American. His comments were widely condemned.
Political analysts say the trump obama monkey video fits into a broader pattern of provocative messaging that often dominates news cycles and energizes Trump’s supporters, while drawing criticism from civil rights advocates.
No Response From the Obamas After trump obama monkey video
Neither Barack nor Michelle Obama has commented publicly on the video. Former aides to the Obamas said the couple is accustomed to racially charged attacks and did not appear surprised by the incident.
However, former administration officials warned that such behavior from a sitting president risks normalizing racist imagery at the highest levels of government.
Questions About Accountability
The incident has also reignited debate over content moderation on platforms owned or used by political leaders. Even though the video was deleted, critics argue that the damage was already done.
Experts on extremism and online behavior note that offensive content shared by high-profile figures can spread far beyond its original audience in minutes, reinforcing harmful stereotypes even after removal.
