A Shocking Late-Night Post Ignites Outrage (Image Credits: Media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com)
President Donald Trump removed a controversial video from his Truth Social account Friday morning after it drew sharp rebukes from lawmakers across the political spectrum for depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.[1]
A Shocking Late-Night Post Ignites Outrage
The video appeared on Trump’s platform late Thursday night amid a flurry of other posts. It centered on unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 election but took a disturbing turn at the end.[1] For about one second, the faces of Barack and Michelle Obama flashed over cartoon apes, accompanied by the opening notes of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”[2]
This imagery evoked deeply offensive historical stereotypes used to dehumanize Black people. The timing amplified the criticism, as the incident unfolded during Black History Month, a period dedicated to celebrating African American achievements.[3] Barack Obama broke barriers as the nation’s first Black president, making the depiction especially inflammatory.
Trump shared only the segment featuring the Obamas from a longer clip that portrayed various Democrats as animals and Trump as a dominant lion figure.[4]
Republicans Join Democrats in Condemnation
What set this backlash apart was its breadth. Prominent Republicans, typically supportive of Trump, publicly decried the post.
- Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the Senate’s only Black Republican and a Trump ally, called it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and urged its removal.[5]
- Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) labeled it “blatantly racist and inexcusable.”[2]
- Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) demanded an apology, noting the clear racist context even if framed as a meme.[6]
Democrats were equally vocal. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office described it as “disgusting behavior,” while NAACP President Derrick Johnson termed it “blatantly racist, disgusting, and utterly despicable.”[3]
White House Shifts from Defense to Denial
Initially, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the post as “from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from ‘The Lion King.'”[1] She dismissed critics with calls to “stop the fake outrage.”
By midday Friday, the tone changed. A White House official attributed the post to a staffer who “erroneously made” it, confirming its removal shortly before noon.[2] Neither the Obamas nor the Obama Foundation issued immediate statements.
The reversal marked a rare public retreat for Trump, who has a history of amplifying conspiracy theories about Obama, including the debunked birther claims.[3]
Roots in a Persistent Racist Trope
Depictions of Black individuals as monkeys or apes trace back centuries, employed to justify slavery, segregation, and violence.[3] This post echoed that painful legacy at a moment when racial sensitivities remain heightened.
Trump has shared similar altered content before, such as AI-generated images of Obama in custody or altered photos of other Democrats.[7] Critics suggested the incident could resurface in upcoming midterm discussions.
The swift deletion underscored the post’s toxicity, even within Trump’s circle. As divisions deepen, such missteps highlight the tightrope of social media in politics.[8]
- The video combined election falsehoods with racist imagery targeting the Obamas.
- Bipartisan pressure, led by GOP senators, prompted a rapid takedown.
- White House pivoted from defense to blaming an unnamed staffer.
Incidents like this test the boundaries of political discourse. What do you think about the response? Tell us in the comments.
