US President Donald Trump has come under heavy criticism after sharing a controversial video on social media that depicts former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as monkeys.
The video, posted late Thursday on Trump’s Truth Social platform, immediately drew condemnation from leading Democrats and civil rights advocates, who described the imagery as racist and deeply offensive. The White House, however, dismissed the backlash, calling it “fake outrage” and claiming the clip was taken from an internet meme.
The one-minute video promotes conspiracy theories surrounding Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. Near the end of the clip, the Obamas briefly appear with their faces superimposed on the bodies of monkeys, accompanied by the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The scene lasts for about one second but has been widely criticized for its racial undertones.
The video also repeats false claims that Dominion Voting Systems manipulated the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden, who served as Barack Obama’s vice president. These allegations have been repeatedly debunked by courts and election authorities.
Reacting to the controversy, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president, stating that the video portrayed Trump as the “King of the Jungle” while Democrats were cast as characters from The Lion King. She urged critics to focus on issues she said mattered more to the American public.
Despite the backlash, the video garnered several thousand likes within hours of being posted.
The post triggered swift reactions from Democratic leaders. The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, described the video as “disgusting” and called on all Republicans to publicly denounce it.
Ben Rhodes, a former national security adviser to Barack Obama, also condemned the imagery, describing it as racist and harmful. He stated that future generations would remember the Obamas as respected figures while viewing Trump as a dark chapter in American history.
Barack Obama remains the only Black president in US history and played an active role in supporting Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump’s rivalry with Obama dates back years and includes his role in promoting the false “birther” conspiracy theory questioning Obama’s US citizenship.
Since returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has increasingly used exaggerated and fabricated visuals on social media, often to praise himself or mock critics. Last year, he shared an AI-generated video showing Obama being arrested in the Oval Office. He also posted a separate clip portraying House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero and fake mustache, an image Jeffries publicly condemned as racist.
Trump has also faced criticism for his aggressive stance against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. One of his earliest actions in office was the termination of federal DEI programs, including those within the military. His administration has also overseen the removal of books addressing racial discrimination from some military academies.
Federal anti-discrimination programs in the United States trace their roots to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, a struggle led largely by Black Americans seeking equality after centuries of slavery and systemic racism.
Trump Sparks Outrage After Posting Racist Video Targeting Barack and Michelle Obama
