Liz Truss Endorses Donald Trump Following Racist Obama Video Controversy
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who served for just 49 days, is facing intense criticism after publicly supporting Donald Trump despite his recent posting of a video that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The controversy erupted after Truss was photographed with the former US President at his Palm Beach golf course on Sunday, where she captioned the image with the phrase 'Right about everything'.
Trump's Racist Social Media Post Sparks Outrage
The incident centers on a video that Trump shared on his Truth Social platform, which has since been deleted. The minute-long clip, which discussed rigged voting machines, included a two-second segment showing the faces of the former President and First Lady superimposed onto ape bodies. In the video, the Obamas were depicted dancing in a jungle setting with the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight playing in the background, a portrayal that has been widely condemned as racist and offensive.
Barack Obama addressed the video in an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, stating, 'First of all, I think it's important to recognise that the majority of the American people find this behaviour deeply troubling. It is true that it gets attention. It's indeed a distraction... You meet people... they still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness, and there's this sort of clown show that's happening in social media and on television.'
White House Response and Political Fallout
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the video, describing it as 'an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.' She urged media to 'stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.'
Truss's endorsement of Trump comes amid her increasing alignment with the US right wing following her resignation in 2022. She has positioned herself as a victim of what she calls the UK's 'deep state', and her appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2024 saw her remain silent as former White House strategist Steve Bannon praised far-right activist Tommy Robinson as a 'hero'.
Truss's Political Downfall and Ongoing Controversies
Less than five months after that conference, Truss lost her South West Norfolk seat to Labour's Terry Jermy in a sensational election defeat. Her recent actions have further fueled criticism, with observers noting her apparent camaraderie with Trump, which contrasts sharply with the White House's official Valentine's Day card featuring Donald and Melania Trump looking solemn.
The Valentine's Day post itself became a subject of mockery online, as some users shared doctored images of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein or redacted his face in reference to the recently released Epstein files, highlighting the ongoing scandals surrounding the former President.
This incident underscores the deepening political divides and the controversial alliances forming in the aftermath of Trump's presidency, with Truss's support drawing ire from across the political spectrum for condoning behavior widely viewed as racist and divisive.
