Trump's 'Disgusting' Social Media Post Depicts Obamas as Apes
Former President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of controversy by sharing a video on his Truth Social platform that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as animated apes dancing in a jungle setting. The late-night posting, which occurred during Black History Month, was met with immediate and widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, with many labeling it as "disgusting" and overtly racist.
White House Initially Defends, Then Removes Content
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed the outrage as "fake," claiming the video was merely an internet meme portraying Trump as the "King of the Jungle" and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. She urged the media to focus on issues more relevant to the American public. However, approximately twelve hours after the post went live, the video was deleted. A senior White House official later stated that a staffer had posted it "erroneously," and an unnamed source told The Hill that Trump was unaware of the video's content when it was uploaded, adding that the employee had "really let the president down."
Video Content and Historical Context of Racist Tropes
The offensive clip appeared at the conclusion of an unrelated video alleging voter fraud in the 2020 election. Approximately one minute into the footage, the faces of the Obamas were superimposed onto the bodies of two great apes, animated to dance against a jungle backdrop to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight. This imagery draws upon a centuries-old racist trope that has been used to dehumanize people of African descent. Trump has a history of targeting the Obamas, having previously championed the birther conspiracy theory questioning Barack Obama's birthplace.
Bipartisan Political Backlash Erupts
The reaction from political figures was swift and severe. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic critic, denounced Trump's "disgusting behavior" on social media platform X, demanding that every Republican condemn the post immediately. Notably, Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, a Trump ally, also expressed dismay, stating, "Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it."
Social media users echoed this outrage, with many calling the video the most racist content ever posted by a public figure and suggesting it crossed a red line that should necessitate Trump's resignation.
Trump's Deflection and Refusal to Apologize
During a press conference aboard Air Force One, Trump was questioned about the controversial post. He insisted he was the "least racist president you've had in a long time" and shifted blame to his staff, claiming he had only viewed the initial segment about voter fraud and was unaware of the offensive ending. When pressed by reporters, he refused to apologize, stating, "No, I didn't make a mistake." However, when directly asked if he condemned the racist elements of the video, Trump replied, "Of course I do." He offered no message to offended Americans, instead pivoting to praise the United States as the "hottest country anywhere in the world."
Broader Context of Trump's Social Media Activity
The Obama ape video was part of a broader spree of Truth Social posts by Trump that covered various grievances. These included multiple claims of voter fraud, content related to Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, a screenshot alleging Democrats are "anti-Christ, anti-family, anti-Black and anti-life," and even a video about New York City trash collection. Amid these posts, he also shared a Super Bowl advertisement for his Invest America initiative, which promotes savings accounts for children, backed by a $6.25 billion investment from billionaire Michael Dell and his wife Susan.
Trump's fixation on election integrity was further highlighted earlier in the week when he called for Republicans to "take over" and "nationalize" elections in at least fifteen locations. Press Secretary Leavitt, responding to queries about these comments, affirmed that the president "believes in the United States Constitution." Despite numerous investigations disproving his claims, Trump maintains that widespread voter fraud, not a rejection of his ideology, caused his 2020 election loss.
