Trump Defends Racist Video Depicting Obamas as Monkeys

President Donald Trump defended the posting of a video on his Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, stating on Friday, February 6, 2026, that he would not apologize. The incident occurred while travelling aboard Air Force One en route to Florida.

Context of the Post

According to reports, Trump claimed he had not fully viewed the video before it was posted and stated he simply “gave it to the people” for publication. The 62-second video, which also references the 2020 presidential election and Dominion Voting System, features the song ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. Dominion Voting System has previously won legal cases against media outlets that promoted false narratives about the 2020 election.

Did You Know? The video appears to have been created by an Instagram user, identified as xerias_x, who specializes in creating pro-Trump videos and memes using artificial intelligence.

Initial Response and Subsequent Removal

Initially, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the outrage surrounding the video as “fake outrage,” describing the content as a viral video portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle” and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. However, the video was subsequently deleted from Trump’s Truth Social account, an unusual step.

Republican Reaction

The post sparked criticism even from within Trump’s own party. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, a Black Republican considered a close ally of the president, expressed concern, stating he was “praying it was fake” and calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen come out of the White House.”

Expert Insight: The swift deletion of the video, following the initial defence by the White House Press Secretary, suggests a calculation of political risk. While the President maintains his position, the internal disagreement highlights the potential for such incidents to create divisions within the Republican party and generate broader public backlash.

Potential Future Developments

the incident could lead to further scrutiny of the content shared on President Trump’s social media accounts. A possible next step could involve increased pressure from within the Republican party for more careful vetting of materials before they are posted. Analysts expect the incident to fuel ongoing debates about the role of social media in political discourse and the spread of misinformation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was President Trump’s response to the criticism?

President Trump stated he would not apologize for the video and that he did not make a mistake. He also indicated he would not fire the individual who created the video, claiming he had not seen the full version.

What was the content of the video?

The video depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes at the end of a 62-second clip. The video also referenced the 2020 election and Dominion Voting System.

How did the White House initially respond to the controversy?

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed the criticism as “fake outrage” and described the video as portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle” and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.

How might incidents like this shape the future of political communication and the use of social media by public figures?