Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of controversy after sharing a video on his social media platform, Truth Social, that depicts former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The clip, which lasts just two seconds, shows the Obamas bobbing up and down to the tune of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and appears towards the end of a longer video promoting debunked claims about the 2020 election.
White House Response and Removal
The post remained live for approximately twelve hours before being deleted. Initially, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the video, stating it was part of an internet meme that portrayed Trump as the "King of the Jungle" and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. She urged critics to stop the "fake outrage" and focus on issues more relevant to the American public.
However, hours later, a White House official shifted the blame, claiming that a member of staff had "erroneously made the post" and that it had since been taken down. This reversal has done little to quell the growing anger from political figures and the public alike.
Political Backlash and Accusations
The video has drawn sharp condemnation from Democrats and some Republicans. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, took to X to accuse Trump of "disgusting behaviour" and called on every Republican to denounce the post immediately.
Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration, reacted strongly, labelling Trump "a stain on our history." He predicted that future generations would embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying Trump's actions as a dark mark on American history.
George Conway, ex-husband of former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, highlighted a past article in which he described Trump as a "racist," underscoring the ongoing concerns about the president's conduct. The group Republicans Against Trump succinctly remarked, "There's no bottom," suggesting a pattern of behaviour without limits.
Historical Context of Trump's Attacks on Obama
This incident is not an isolated one in Trump's long history of targeting Barack Obama. Notably, Trump was a vocal proponent of the "birther" conspiracy theory, which falsely claimed that Obama was not born in the United States and was therefore ineligible for the presidency.
Despite Obama producing his long-form birth certificate in 2011, Trump continued to promote the theory until 2016, when he publicly accepted that Obama was born in the USA. This latest video adds to a series of actions that critics argue demonstrate a persistent pattern of racially charged rhetoric and imagery.
Broader Implications and Reactions
The sharing of such content raises serious questions about the normalisation of offensive behaviour in political discourse. As the backlash intensifies, it highlights the deep divisions within American politics and the challenges in addressing issues of racism and decorum at the highest levels of government.
With the 2026 political landscape evolving, this event may have lasting repercussions for Trump's legacy and the Republican Party's stance on such matters. The swift removal of the post, coupled with the conflicting explanations from the White House, only adds to the confusion and outrage surrounding the incident.
