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Donald Trump Shares Video Depicting Obamas as Apes, Then Deletes Post
Former President Donald Trump shared a controversial video on Truth Social that briefly depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as animated apes, sparking immediate backlash before the post was removed from his social media platform.
The incident occurred late on February 5, 2026, when Trump posted a one-minute, two-second video originally from PatriotNewsOutlet.com. The bulk of the footage focused on debunked claims about voting machines in the 2020 election, but concluded with a two-second clip showing the Obamas’ faces superimposed on cartoon ape bodies while the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played in the background.
The post remained on Trump’s Truth Social account for approximately 12 hours before being deleted around noon Eastern Time the following day. By then, however, the content had already circulated widely across social media platforms, with user @yashar sharing a seven-second excerpt on X that quickly gained traction.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to media inquiries about the post, attempting to downplay the controversy. “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” Leavitt stated in an email. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
The press secretary included a link to the original meme video, posted by X user @xerias_x, which appears to be the source of the controversial segment. However, critics have pointed out that Trump’s sharing of imagery depicting the first Black president and first lady as primates invokes a long history of racist tropes used to dehumanize Black Americans.
The majority of the video shared by Trump focused on election fraud conspiracies that have been repeatedly debunked by courts, election officials, and independent fact-checkers. The content originated from Mike Lindell’s August 2021 “Cyber Symposium,” which promoted various election conspiracy theories.
This segment falsely claimed that investigators found a “Telit 4G wireless chip manufactured in Taiwan” embedded in voting machines and suggested vote counting irregularities in key battleground states. Lead Stories published a comprehensive fact check debunking these claims shortly after Lindell’s symposium.
The incident comes amid an increasingly contentious political climate as the 2026 midterm elections approach. Trump has continued to maintain a significant presence in Republican politics despite leaving office in 2021, and his social media activity remains highly influential among his supporters.
Civil rights organizations have condemned the post, with several calling it an example of how racist imagery continues to be weaponized in American politics. Media watchdog groups have noted that while the offensive segment was brief, its inclusion in content shared by a former president is particularly concerning given the historical context of such depictions.
Neither Barack nor Michelle Obama had publicly responded to the incident at the time of publication. The Trump team has not issued any additional statements beyond the White House Press Secretary’s initial response explaining the source of the video.
This is not the first time controversial content shared by Trump on social media has drawn criticism. Throughout his presidency and afterward, his social media activity has frequently generated headlines and sparked debates about the responsibilities of political figures when using digital platforms.
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14 Comments
This incident is deeply troubling and reflects poorly on the former president. Engaging in racist imagery is never acceptable, even in the context of political disagreements.
I share your concern. Elected officials must be more mindful of the impact of their actions and avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes, regardless of their political motivations.
While I’m no fan of the Obamas, using dehumanizing imagery is unacceptable. Trump should know better than to share content that promotes harmful stereotypes, even if unintentionally.
I understand the desire to criticize political opponents, but this crosses a line. Stooping to racist caricatures is a dangerous path that only serves to further divide the country.
Regardless of one’s political leanings, the use of such offensive and dehumanizing content is completely unacceptable. Leaders should be held to a higher standard of conduct.
Agreed. Promoting this kind of material, even indirectly, is a serious lapse in judgment. Trump should apologize and commit to more responsible and respectful behavior going forward.
This is a disturbing incident that perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Elected officials should be held to high standards and avoid promoting divisive content, even if unintentional.
I agree, the use of offensive imagery is completely unacceptable, regardless of the political affiliation. Leaders need to be more mindful of the impact of their actions.
While I’m no fan of the Obamas, using dehumanizing imagery is unacceptable. Trump should know better than to share content that promotes harmful stereotypes, even if unintentionally.
Agreed. Stooping to racist caricatures is a dangerous path that only serves to further divide the country. Leaders should be held to a higher standard of conduct.
It’s disheartening to see a former president engage in such divisive and hateful rhetoric. This type of content has no place in our political discourse and must be called out.
I couldn’t agree more. Elected officials have a responsibility to bring people together, not drive them apart with offensive, racist imagery. This is a concerning development.
While I understand the desire to raise concerns about the 2020 election, stooping to such blatantly racist depictions is extremely troubling. We need more civility and respect in political discourse.
Absolutely. Sharing content that dehumanizes the Obamas is a new low, even for Trump. This kind of behavior should be condemned across the political spectrum.