The White House removed a controversial social media post from President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account on Friday following a wave of condemnation from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers who labeled the content as overtly racist. The post, which featured a video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle, was taken down approximately twelve hours after it was shared. While the administration initially dismissed the criticism as “fake outrage,” it later attributed the post to an error by a subordinate staffer. Despite the deletion and the official explanation, President Trump later told reporters he would not apologize, maintaining that he had not made a mistake in sharing the content.+2
The video in question was a 62-second clip primarily focused on debunked conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 presidential election. At the one-minute mark, the footage transitioned to a scene showing the Obamas’ faces superimposed onto the bodies of apes. This specific imagery is rooted in a long history of racist tropes used to dehumanize Black individuals, a connection that civil rights leaders and historians were quick to highlight. The clip appeared to originate from a larger “internet meme” produced by a conservative content creator, which reportedly depicts various Democratic figures as animals while portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle.”+3
Initially, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the post via text message, instructing critics to “stop the fake outrage” and focus on issues that matter to the public. She characterized the video as a satirical reference to Disney’s “The Lion King,” though observers noted that the 1994 film is set on the savannah and does not feature the primates shown in the Truth Social clip. As the backlash intensified throughout Friday morning, the White House shifted its stance, stating that a staffer had posted the video erroneously. This marked a rare admission of a procedural misstep from an administration that typically stands firm behind the president’s frequent and often provocative social media activity.+2
The timing of the post drew additional scrutiny, as it occurred during the first week of Black History Month. Only days prior, the White House had issued an official proclamation celebrating the contributions of Black Americans and affirming the national commitment to principles of equality and justice. Critics, including Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke, argued that the incident revealed a “toxic and racist climate” within the administration. Clarke dismissed the staffer-error explanation, suggesting that such content could only surface in an environment where such rhetoric is normalized.
Bipartisan condemnation was notably swift and vocal. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the lone Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, publicly called for the post’s removal, describing it as the “most racist thing” he had seen from the current White House. Other prominent Republicans, such as Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, echoed these sentiments, calling the imagery “totally unacceptable” and urging the president to issue a formal apology. The rare break in Republican unity underscored the severity of the controversy, as even staunch allies found the dehumanizing nature of the primate trope impossible to defend.+2
Trump addressed the situation on Friday night while traveling aboard Air Force One. He admitted that he had seen the video and “passed it on” because he liked the portions focused on election fraud. He claimed that he likely did not see the final seconds containing the racist imagery but stopped short of expressing regret. When asked if he condemned the racism in the video, Trump replied, “Of course I do,” yet he reinforced his defiance by stating that the initial decision to share the post was not a mistake.+1
The incident has reignited long-standing debates regarding the president’s history of using incendiary language. From his early political rise fueled by “birtherism” claims against Barack Obama to his more recent comments about immigrants “poisoning the blood” of the country, Trump has frequently faced accusations of using rhetoric that mirrors historical patterns of bigotry. Historians point out that the comparison of Black people to apes dates back to the 18th century and was used as pseudo-scientific justification for enslavement and Jim Crow-era segregation.+2
Public figures from the civil rights community also weighed in, including the Reverend Bernice King, who cited her father’s legacy of Black pride and dignity in a social media rebuttal. NAACP President Derrick Johnson characterized the video as a “despicable” distraction intended to divert attention from other political and economic challenges facing the administration. Johnson specifically noted that such attacks on the Obamas often resurface when the administration is under significant pressure from news cycles related to sensitive legal or financial disclosures.+1
The controversy also raises practical questions regarding the management of the president’s digital footprint. While the White House frequently utilizes social media for policy announcements and diplomatic communication, the lack of a clear vetting process for meme-based content has led to multiple instances of international and domestic friction. This latest episode has left many questioning who maintains final authority over the President’s Truth Social account and how the administration intends to prevent similar “erroneous” posts in the future.
As of Saturday, the former president and first lady have not issued a formal response to the video. A spokesperson for Barack Obama stated that the former president would not be commenting on the matter. Meanwhile, the political fallout continues to resonate in Washington, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle weigh the impact of the president’s rhetoric on national discourse during a high-stakes election year.
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Donald Trump, Truth Social, White House Backlash, Black History Month, Racist Trope, Tim Scott, Karoline Leavitt, Election Conspiracy, Civil Rights, NAACP, US Politics, Social Media Controversy, Bipartisan Condemnation
Trump’s Deleted Post Controversy
This video provides additional journalistic coverage and commentary on the immediate political reaction following the deletion of the controversial social media post.
