Former President Donald Trump is facing significant backlash after sharing a video on his social media platform, Truth Social, that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates. The video, which featured racist imagery, was posted late on February 1, 2024, and was deleted the following day due to widespread criticism from both political parties.
The video, which discussed conspiracy theories related to the 2020 election, included a clip showing the Obamas portrayed as apes, set to the tune of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” This particular segment appears to be part of a longer, AI-generated video titled “President Trump: King of the Jungle,” which had circulated on other platforms in the past. In that video, various Democratic figures are represented as animals—Joe Biden as a zebra and Kamala Harris as another character—while Trump is depicted as a lion.
Historians and experts have condemned the use of such imagery. They point out that comparing Black individuals to apes has deep historical roots in racism, dating back to the 18th century. According to Phillip Atiba Solomon, lead author of a 2008 study on discrimination, “Historical racist images and books dehumanizing African Americans relied heavily on the Negro-ape metaphor, used to stereotype Blacks as lazy, dim, and aggressive.”
Despite the growing outcry, which included criticism from members of Trump’s own party, the former president has refused to apologize. While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated he did not view the entire video and was unaware of the offensive content. He claimed his staff typically vet posts but suggested that an oversight occurred this time. “I didn’t make a mistake,” Trump asserted when asked if he would apologize.
The White House initially defended the video, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing the backlash as “fake outrage.” She later stated that a staffer had posted the content in error, and it was removed after hours of public condemnation. Even after its deletion, Republicans continued to voice their disapproval.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina called the video “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” Another Republican senator, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, echoed this sentiment, arguing that “a reasonable person sees the racist context to this” and urged for an apology. Representative Mike Lawler from New York described the video as “wrong and incredibly offensive.”
The incident has raised questions about the vetting process of content shared on Trump’s social media platforms and his judgment regarding sensitive matters. The timing of the post, occurring during Black History Month, has intensified scrutiny and concern over the implications of such racist imagery.
As of now, neither Obama nor his wife has publicly commented on the incident. The controversy continues to unfold, drawing attention to ongoing issues of race and representation in political discourse.
