Trump Removes Controversial Social Media Post After Widespread Condemnation
President Donald Trump has deleted a social media post from his Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates. The removal came following widespread condemnation from Republican and Democratic leaders, civil rights activists, and lawmakers who labeled the content as racially insensitive.
White House Attributes Post to Staffer Error Amid Initial Dismissal
According to White House officials, the controversial video was posted by a subordinate staffer in error. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed public complaints about the content as fake outrage, describing the clip as an internet meme inspired by the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. The video portrayed Trump as the King of the Jungle and featured Democrats as animal characters, with brief frames showing the Obamas digitally altered to resemble primates.
Bipartisan Criticism Erupts Over Racial Insensitivity
The post sparked immediate bipartisan criticism during Black History Month. Senate Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina called it the most racist thing I have seen out of this White House, while Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi described it as totally unacceptable and urged Trump to apologize. NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the video as blatantly racist, disgusting, and utterly despicable, suggesting it was a distraction from economic issues and ongoing investigations.
Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., emphasized the dignity of Black Americans, stating, We are beloved of God as postal workers and professors, as a former first lady and president. We are not apes.
Video Context and Broader Implications
The 62-second video was among numerous posts amplifying Trump's unverified claims about the 2020 election being stolen, despite courts and former administration officials confirming no evidence of fraud that could have altered the outcome. Nearly all of the clip focused on allegations of election tampering in key battleground states, with the Obamas appearing briefly as altered primates.
An Obama spokesperson indicated that the former president would not comment on the incident, as reported by the Associated Press. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over Trump's use of Truth Social, where AI-generated videos and politically charged memes are frequently posted, often dismissed by aides as humor.
Timing and Historical Context
This incident occurred during the first week of Black History Month, shortly after Trump issued a proclamation celebrating the achievements of Black Americans and their commitment to principles of liberty, justice, and equality. The episode has drawn rare bipartisan rebuke and widespread media attention, underscoring the sensitivity of racial imagery in political discourse.
The White House eventually removed the video by Friday, with officials emphasizing it was not intended to demean the former president or first lady. However, the damage was already done, sparking discussions about racial insensitivity and the normalization of such content in political communication.
