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Former President Donald Trump claimed he “didn’t see” the controversial segment of a video shown at his weekend rally in New York that depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, following widespread condemnation across the political spectrum.
The racially charged imagery appeared during a pre-rally video at Trump’s Madison Square Garden event Sunday, just nine days before the presidential election. The clip showed a pickup truck with what appeared to be a photoshopped image of Obama and his wife depicted as monkeys or apes clinging to the back.
“I didn’t see it,” Trump told Fox News Digital on Monday. “I didn’t see that particular clip. I saw a lot of the event and it was very well received and it was a great event.”
The footage sparked immediate backlash from civil rights leaders, Democratic politicians, and even some Republicans who characterized it as blatantly racist. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the video “vile and divisive,” while Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign denounced it as “racist and hateful.”
Several prominent Republicans also distanced themselves from the imagery. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley called the depiction “disgusting,” while former Vice President Mike Pence described it as “completely inconsistent with who we are as a party.”
The controversy erupted during the final stretch of an already contentious presidential campaign between Trump and Harris, with both candidates making their closing arguments to voters in battleground states. The Madison Square Garden rally was intended to demonstrate Trump’s support in deep-blue New York, though polling shows him significantly trailing Harris in the state.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung attempted to deflect criticism by claiming the campaign had no role in creating or distributing the video. “This was not produced by the campaign,” Cheung said in a statement. “It was created by an outside group and played prior to the program beginning while music was playing.”
However, questions remain about the vetting process for content displayed at official campaign events. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about racial rhetoric in American politics, particularly given the historic nature of the Obama presidency as the nation’s first Black commander-in-chief.
Civil rights organizations condemned the imagery as perpetuating harmful stereotypes with deep historical roots in American racism. The comparison of Black individuals to apes or monkeys has been a persistent dehumanizing trope dating back to slavery and Jim Crow segregation.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the video “a disgusting reminder of the hatred that still permeates parts of our society” and urged all political leaders to denounce such imagery unequivocally.
This is not the first time Trump has been embroiled in controversy regarding Obama. He was a leading proponent of the “birther” conspiracy theory, falsely claiming for years that Obama was not born in the United States and therefore ineligible for the presidency.
Political analysts suggest the latest incident could potentially impact voter turnout among Black Americans and suburban moderates in crucial swing states where the race remains extremely close. Recent polling indicates razor-thin margins in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and other battleground states that will likely determine the election outcome.
As early voting continues across the country, both campaigns are making their final appeals to undecided voters and working to mobilize their bases. The Harris campaign has seized on the controversy, arguing it reflects a pattern of divisive rhetoric from the former president.
Trump, meanwhile, has intensified his focus on economic issues and immigration in the campaign’s final days, areas where polling shows he maintains advantages with certain voter segments.
With Election Day approaching on November 5, the incident adds another layer of intensity to what has already been one of the most unusual and unpredictable presidential campaigns in modern American history.
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9 Comments
This is a disappointing example of how far some political figures are willing to go to appeal to their base. Using dehumanizing imagery is an unethical tactic that erodes public trust and social cohesion.
While I’m not surprised by Trump’s response, it’s deeply troubling that he continues to downplay and deny this kind of blatant racism. We need more responsible leadership that rejects prejudice and promotes unity.
While I understand the desire to downplay controversial events, Trump’s response here is simply unacceptable. Refusing to condemn such blatantly racist imagery is a failure of moral leadership.
Seeing the former president dismiss this racist video is disheartening. We should expect higher standards of decency and integrity from our leaders, regardless of party affiliation.
Absolutely. Normalizing this kind of behavior only serves to embolden those who seek to divide us along racial lines. It’s a dangerous path that we must reject.
Regardless of political affiliation, we should condemn the use of racist propaganda and dehumanizing depictions. This type of content has no place in civil discourse and undermines the principles of equality and respect.
Agreed. Leaders should set an example and bring people together, not drive them apart with hateful rhetoric and imagery.
This is highly concerning and unacceptable behavior from a former US president. Promoting racist imagery is divisive and damaging to our democracy. I hope Trump is held accountable for this reprehensible act.
It’s alarming that this type of inflammatory content was shown at a political rally. Elected officials should be working to heal divisions, not inflame them with racist propaganda. I hope this incident is thoroughly investigated.