Trump Deletes Racist Obama Video After Bipartisan Outrage

White House Blames Staffer for Controversial Post on Truth Social

President Donald Trump has removed a racist video from his Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, following widespread bipartisan condemnation. The video, which remained online for approximately 12 hours, showed the Obamas' faces superimposed on cartoon ape bodies with the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight playing in the background.

Initial Defense and Subsequent Removal

The White House initially defended the post, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing criticism as 'fake outrage' and describing it as an internet meme showing Trump as the 'King of the Jungle' with Democrats as characters from Disney's The Lion King. However, after mounting pressure from both parties, the administration changed its story, claiming a staffer had posted the video 'by mistake' without Trump's knowledge.

'Stop with the fake outrage and report on something that actually matters to the American public,' Leavitt told reporters during the initial defense.

Bipartisan Condemnation

The video sparked immediate backlash, with Republican Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate and a Trump ally, calling it 'the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House.' He demanded its removal, marking a rare public rebuke from within Trump's own party.

Democratic leaders were equally vocal. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced what he called Trump's 'disgusting bigotry,' while Senator Chuck Schumer called the imagery 'vile and unacceptable.' Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tweeted that the video 'evokes the worst racist tropes in American history.'

Historical Context and Timing

The incident occurred during Black History Month, adding to the controversy. The portrayal of Black people as primates has deep historical roots in eugenics and Jim Crow-era dehumanization, used historically to justify segregation and violence against African Americans.

The video was part of a longer conspiracy theory clip about unsubstantiated voter fraud allegations in the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. This combination of election misinformation with racist imagery created what civil rights groups called a 'perfect storm of hate.'

Truth Social's Role

The video was shared on Truth Social, the social media platform owned by Trump Media & Technology Group. Launched in 2022 as a 'free-speech alternative' to mainstream platforms after Trump was banned from Twitter and Facebook following the January 6 Capitol attack, Truth Social has faced criticism for content moderation inconsistencies and misinformation. The platform has approximately 6.3 million monthly active users, significantly fewer than major social networks.

Political Implications

Political analysts suggest the incident could impact the upcoming midterm elections. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, stated: 'We'll remember that in November. This isn't just a meme—it's straight-up rank hatred during Black History Month.' The controversy comes as Trump faces multiple legal challenges and prepares for a potential 2028 presidential run.

The White House has not announced any disciplinary action against the staffer allegedly responsible for the post, nor has Trump personally commented on the incident beyond the initial removal of the video.

Sources