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In a controversial social media incident, a post on former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account containing a video that appeared to depict former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders across party lines.
The offensive content was part of an overnight flurry of posts on Trump’s social media platform, most of which amplified his baseless claims about the 2020 election. The 62-second video primarily focused on allegations of voting machine tampering in battleground states during the 2020 election. In the final seconds, it included a brief segment showing primates with the Obamas’ faces superimposed on them.
A Trump campaign spokesperson initially defended the post, claiming it was from an internet meme depicting “Trump as King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King.” However, this explanation was challenged by observers who noted the original video did not feature characters from the Disney film but rather showed various Democratic leaders, including President Biden, depicted as jungle animals. By midday, the post had been removed, with Trump’s team attributing it to a subordinate’s action.
The post’s timing during Black History Month has intensified criticism. Just days earlier, Trump had issued a presidential proclamation acknowledging “the contributions of Black Americans to our national greatness and their enduring commitment to the American principles of liberty, justice, and equality.”
The incident prompted immediate backlash from prominent figures. The Reverend Bernice King, daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., responded by quoting her father: “Yes. I’m Black. I’m proud of it. I’m Black and beautiful.” She added, “We are beloved of God as postal workers and professors, as a former first lady and president. We are not apes.”
Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, called for the post’s removal, describing it as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” His GOP colleague Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who represents the state with the highest percentage of Black residents, termed the post “totally unacceptable” and urged Trump to apologize.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the video as “blatantly racist, disgusting, and utterly despicable.” Johnson suggested the post was an attempt to divert attention from economic concerns and the Jeffrey Epstein case files, noting pointedly, “You know who isn’t in the Epstein files? Barack Obama. You know who actually improved the economy as president? Barack Obama.”
This incident fits within a troubling historical context of racist imagery in American society. Historians note the long-standing practice of white authority figures dehumanizing Black people by comparing them to animals, particularly primates. This dehumanization tactic dates back to 18th-century pseudo-scientific theories used to justify slavery and later to characterize freed Black people as threats to white society.
The Obama family has been a particular target of such imagery in the past, with the former president frequently depicted as a monkey or other primate on merchandise during his candidacy and presidency.
Trump’s history with the Obamas has been consistently contentious. He gained political traction among conservative voters by promoting the false “birther” conspiracy theory, claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Though Trump eventually acknowledged Obama’s American birth during the 2016 campaign, he falsely attributed the origin of the conspiracy to Hillary Clinton.
The former president has faced repeated criticism for inflammatory rhetoric. During his 2024 campaign, Trump claimed immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country,” language reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s dehumanizing rhetoric. During his presidency, he reportedly referred to developing nations with predominantly Black populations as “shithole countries,” a slur he initially denied but later admitted to using.
An Obama spokeswoman indicated the former president would not be responding to the incident.
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14 Comments
This type of content is extremely concerning and inappropriate. Depicting former President and First Lady in such a dehumanizing way is unacceptable and only serves to further divide us. I hope this incident leads to greater accountability and more responsible social media practices.
I agree, this kind of rhetoric is unacceptable and has no place in civil discourse. It’s crucial that we condemn these harmful tactics and work towards more constructive dialogue, even across political divides.
While political commentary and satire can be valuable, this video crosses a line and is clearly meant to demean and dehumanize. We should expect more from our elected officials, regardless of their party affiliation.
I agree, this kind of content is unacceptable and has no place in civil discourse. It’s crucial that we hold all public figures accountable for their actions and work towards a more constructive and inclusive political landscape.
This is a deeply concerning incident that highlights the need for greater accountability and responsibility on social media platforms. Elected leaders should be held to the highest standards of integrity and civility, regardless of their political affiliation.
Absolutely. We must condemn this type of hateful and divisive rhetoric, and demand that our political leaders focus on bringing people together rather than driving them apart. Responsible social media practices are essential for a healthy democracy.
While I appreciate the desire to engage in political satire, this video crosses a line and is clearly meant to demean and dehumanize. We should hold all public figures to a higher standard, regardless of their party affiliation.
I couldn’t agree more. Satire is one thing, but this type of content is just hateful and divisive. It’s important that we condemn these tactics and work towards more constructive and civil political discourse.
It’s troubling to see the former president amplifying false claims and promoting offensive content. Responsible leadership should focus on bringing people together, not driving them apart with divisive rhetoric and misinformation.
Absolutely. Using social media to spread disinformation and dehumanize political opponents sets a dangerous precedent. We need to demand higher standards of integrity and accountability from our elected officials.
While I understand the desire to engage in political commentary, this video crosses a line and is clearly meant to dehumanize and demean. We should hold all public figures to a higher standard of civility and respect.
I agree, this type of content is highly inappropriate and counterproductive. It’s crucial that we condemn these tactics and work towards a more constructive and inclusive political discourse, even in the face of deep partisan divides.
It’s concerning to see the former president continuing to spread misinformation and engage in this type of inflammatory rhetoric. Responsible leaders should be focused on bringing people together, not driving them apart.
Absolutely. This kind of content is unacceptable and only serves to further polarize our political landscape. We need to demand more integrity and accountability from our elected officials, regardless of party affiliation.