Trump deletes video depicting Obamas as apes after bipartisan backlash
Donald Trump drew bipartisan condemnation after posting and deleting an AI-generated video portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Lawmakers from both parties called the imagery unacceptable, while the White House said the post came from an internet meme and was shared in error. The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about political rhetoric, racism, and the rapid spread of AI-generated media in U.S. politics.
President Donald Trump faced swift bipartisan criticism after sharing and later deleting a video on Truth Social that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, an image many lawmakers and commentators condemned as racist and inappropriate for the presidency.
The roughly minute-long clip, posted late on Feb. 5, initially focused on disputed claims surrounding the 2020 election before briefly cutting to an artificial-intelligence-generated scene showing the Obamas’ faces superimposed onto ape bodies in a jungle setting. The post appeared without commentary and remained online for about 12 hours before being removed the following day.
The White House first pushed back on accusations of racism, saying the footage originated from an internet meme portraying Trump as a lion and Democrats as characters inspired by The Lion King. Officials later said a staff member had mistakenly shared the video and confirmed it had been taken down.
Despite the explanation, reaction from across the political spectrum was immediate and intense. Several Republican lawmakers publicly called the imagery unacceptable and urged an apology, while Democrats described the post as dehumanizing and beneath the dignity of the office. Critics on social media echoed those concerns, arguing the imagery reinforced racist tropes historically used against Black Americans.
The controversy adds to a series of recent flashpoints involving Trump’s online activity and rhetoric during his second term. His critics say such incidents deepen political divisions and distract from policy debates, while supporters often dismiss the backlash as partisan outrage or misinterpretation of satire.
The Obamas had not publicly responded at the time the video was removed, though former Obama administration officials and political figures sharply criticized the imagery online. Civil rights advocates also warned that the use of ape comparisons carries a long and painful history in American racial discourse, heightening concerns about the message conveyed by a sitting president sharing such content—even briefly.
The episode underscores the growing role of artificial intelligence in political communication and misinformation. AI-generated imagery can spread rapidly across social media platforms, blurring the line between satire, propaganda, and harmful content. Lawmakers in both parties have increasingly discussed whether new guardrails are needed to address deceptive or inflammatory AI-driven media, particularly during election cycles.
For now, the incident stands as another reminder of how quickly digital content posted by political leaders can trigger national controversy—and how difficult it is to contain the fallout once images circulate widely online. Even after deletion, screenshots and reposts ensured the video remained part of the broader political conversation.