Trump's Late-Night Truth Social Spree Includes Racist Video Targeting Obamas
Former President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of controversy by sharing a video on his Truth Social platform that depicts Barack and Michelle Obama as animated apes. The clip appeared during a late-night posting spree that spanned multiple topics, including debunked claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Outrage Over "Disgusting" Imagery During Black History Month
The video, which users on social media have described as "disgusting," shows the faces of the former president and first lady superimposed on the bodies of two great apes. The animated figures dance against a jungle background to the soundtrack of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The Independent has chosen not to republish the imagery due to its offensive nature.
This incident occurred during Black History Month, adding to the outrage. Comparing Black people to apes is a racist trope with centuries-old roots used to dehumanize people of African heritage. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who frequently opposes Trump, slammed the behavior as "disgusting" in a post on X, demanding that "every single Republican must denounce this. Now."
Historical Context of Trump's Attacks on the Obamas
Trump has a long history of targeting the Obamas, despite them leaving the White House nine years ago. He was an early champion of the birther conspiracy theory against Barack Obama, falsely claiming he was not born in the United States. Even after Hawaii verified Obama's birth certificate, Trump persisted in questioning its legitimacy.
In his recent social media barrage, Trump also claimed that Obama had been "spying on him," continuing his pattern of grievances against the former president. The video featuring the Obamas was inserted about a minute into an unrelated clip alleging voter fraud in the 2020 election, which Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed was stolen from him despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Wider Social Media Spree Covers Multiple Conspiracy Theories
Trump's midnight posting spree covered a wide range of his pet topics beyond the racist video. He shared multiple claims of voter fraud in various elections, video clips related to Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, and a screenshot of an X post accusing Democrats of being "anti-Christ, anti-family, anti-Black and anti-life." He also posted a video about trash collection in New York City.
Amid this barrage of grievances and conspiracy theories, Trump reshared a Super Bowl ad for his Invest America initiative. This program, dubbed "Trump accounts" for children, aims to kickstart savings programs with federal assistance. The ad features young people discussing future plans like buying homes and studying, and it was promoted by rapper Nicki Minaj. Billionaire Michael Dell, who is investing $6.25 billion in the program with his wife Susan, shared the clip on X, calling it "time to give every child a stake in the American Dream."
Trump's Ongoing Fixation on Election Processes
The president's social media activity reflects his persistent focus on voting processes. Earlier this week, he called for Republicans to "take over" elections and "nationalize" them, suggesting they should "take over the voting in at least 15 places." When asked about these comments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt assured reporters that Trump "believes in the United States Constitution."
Trump remains insistent that he only lost the 2020 election due to massive voter fraud, despite numerous investigations and court rulings finding no evidence to support his claims. He attributes his electoral losses to fraud rather than a rejection of his ideology. The Independent has contacted the White House for further comment on the racist video, but no response has been provided at this time.
