US President Donald Trump has removed a controversial social media video after it sparked widespread outrage for including a racist clip depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The video, which was shared on Trump’s Truth Social account, reignited long-standing concerns about racism, misinformation, and the use of inflammatory content by the president on social media.
The incident quickly drew condemnation from civil rights leaders, Democrats, and even members of Trump’s own Republican Party, turning what the White House initially dismissed as an “internet meme” into a major political controversy.
The Video and Its Racist Imagery
The now-deleted post was a 62-second video that included a montage of political imagery and false claims related to alleged voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. At the end of the video was a short clip set to the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, showing Barack and Michelle Obama portrayed as apes.
Trump Obama Ape Monkey Full Video
The imagery immediately struck many viewers as deeply offensive. Comparing Black people to monkeys or apes has a long and painful history rooted in racist caricatures and dehumanization. Civil rights advocates and historians have repeatedly emphasized that such depictions are among the most overt and harmful forms of racial insult.
The video did not stop with the Obamas. Other prominent Democrats, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former President Joe Biden, were also portrayed as animals. However, the depiction of the Obamas drew the most intense backlash due to its explicit racial symbolism.
Origins of the Clip
The controversial clip appears to have originated from a post on X shared in October by a conservative meme creator known as Xerias. That earlier video framed Trump as the “King of the Jungle” while depicting Democrats as characters from The Lion King. While supporters argued it was satire, critics said the racial imagery crossed a clear line.
By reposting the clip without context or commentary, Trump effectively amplified the content to millions of followers, transforming a fringe meme into a national political issue.
White House Defense and Escalating Backlash
Initially, the White House defended the video. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as an “internet meme video” and accused critics of engaging in “fake outrage.” She said the clip was meant to portray Trump as the dominant figure while casting Democrats as weak or ridiculous characters.
Rather than calming the situation, the response intensified criticism. Many observers argued that dismissing legitimate concerns about racism only deepened the damage and reflected a lack of accountability at the highest level of government.
As outrage grew across social media and cable news, pressure mounted on the White House to act.
Video Removed and Staffer Blamed
Following mounting criticism, the video was removed from Trump’s Truth Social account. A White House official later told reporters that a staff member had “erroneously” posted the video, suggesting it was not personally approved by the president.
The explanation raised new questions about who has access to Trump’s social media accounts and what approval process exists for presidential posts. The BBC confirmed it had contacted the White House seeking clarification on how content is reviewed before being published, but no detailed explanation was immediately provided.
Republican Lawmakers Speak Out
Notably, some of the strongest criticism came from within Trump’s own party. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, a Black Republican and longtime Trump ally, publicly condemned the video.
“I’m praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott wrote, urging the president to remove the post.
Representative Mike Lawler of New York also denounced the video, calling it “wrong and incredibly offensive” and saying it should be deleted immediately with an apology. Even after the post was taken down, Utah Senator John Curtis described the video as “blatantly racist and inexcusable,” adding that it should never have been published in the first place.
According to CBS, Florida Representative Byron Donalds, another Trump supporter who is running for governor, personally contacted the White House after the video surfaced and was told a staffer had “let the president down.”
Democratic Leaders and Civil Rights Groups Respond
Democratic leaders were swift and forceful in their reactions. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker bluntly stated, “Donald Trump is a racist.” California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office called the video “disgusting behaviour” and demanded that every Republican publicly denounce it.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump as “vile, unhinged and malignant,” accusing him of promoting bigotry while occupying the nation’s highest office.
Civil rights organizations also weighed in. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, called the video “disgusting and utterly despicable.” He accused Trump of attempting to distract the public from other controversies, including the Epstein case and concerns about the US economy.
Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser under Obama, contrasted the legacies of the two presidents, saying future generations would remember the Obamas as beloved figures while viewing Trump as a stain on American history.
Election Misinformation in the Same Post
Compounding the controversy was the fact that the racist clip appeared at the end of a video promoting false claims about voter fraud in Michigan during the 2020 election. Those allegations have been repeatedly debunked and were central to Dominion Voting Systems’ successful defamation lawsuits against several media outlets.
Critics argued that combining racial insults with election misinformation illustrated a broader pattern of irresponsible and divisive communication.
Trump’s Long History of Attacking Obama
The incident also revived memories of Trump’s long-running attacks on Barack Obama. Before entering office, Trump was a leading promoter of the “birther” conspiracy theory, falsely claiming that Obama was born in Kenya and therefore ineligible to be president.
Although Trump later acknowledged that Obama was born in the United States, many critics view the latest video as part of a consistent pattern of racial hostility.
Silence from the Obamas and Broader Implications
Barack and Michelle Obama have not commented publicly on the video, a silence that mirrors their past approach to similar attacks. Supporters say the lack of response reflects dignity and restraint, while critics argue it underscores how normalized such attacks have become.
The episode has renewed debates about presidential conduct, accountability, and the normalization of racist imagery in modern politics. For many Americans, the controversy raises troubling questions about leadership, responsibility, and the power of social media to inflame division.
As the fallout continues, the incident stands as another stark reminder of how quickly digital content can escalate into a national crisis—and how deeply unresolved issues of race and rhetoric remain in American political life.
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