Published Date: February, 7th, 2026 ✍️ Author: Global World Citizen Editorial Team 🌐 Source: GlobalWorldCitizen.com
President Donald Trump deleted a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes after widespread condemnation—including rare and forceful criticism from members of his own party.
The video, which appeared on Trump’s Truth Social account late Thursday night, was embedded in a longer clip promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Near its conclusion, the video used imagery historically associated with the dehumanization of Black people, set to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The post remained live for hours before being removed on Friday.
Initially, the White House dismissed concerns. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the backlash as “fake outrage,” claiming the video was merely an internet meme portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle.” However, the post was later quietly deleted without explanation from the president himself.
An Unusual Retreat Amid Growing Pressure
Trump’s decision to remove the video marked a rare retreat from a pattern in which his administration typically doubles down when accused of racist or offensive messaging. The reversal came only after strong public objections from Republican lawmakers—an uncommon development in Trump-era politics.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senate’s only Black Republican and a close Trump ally, publicly condemned the video, writing that he hoped it was fake because it was “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” Other Republicans echoed the sentiment, calling the imagery “offensive,” “unacceptable,” and “wrong,” with several urging the president to apologize.
Even after the deletion, calls for accountability continued. Some lawmakers insisted that removing the post was insufficient without a public apology or clarification.
A Pattern of Racist and A.I.-Generated Content
The incident fits within a broader trend of Trump amplifying offensive and A.I.-generated content targeting political opponents—particularly people of color. In recent years, Trump has shared manipulated images and videos portraying Black leaders through racial stereotypes, often dismissing criticism as humor or political correctness.
Across multiple federal agencies, racist slogans and imagery have appeared on official or affiliated platforms, frequently echoing extremist or white supremacist rhetoric. When challenged, administration officials have often minimized concerns, framing such content as jokes or memes.
The Obama imagery, however, struck a deeper nerve. Comparing Black individuals to apes is one of the oldest racist tropes in Western history, long used to justify enslavement, segregation, and racial violence. Historians and civil rights advocates described the video as a modern digital revival of 19th-century racist propaganda.
Silence From the President
Despite the backlash, Trump has not commented publicly on the video’s removal. The White House declined to answer questions about who approved the post, why it was initially defended, or whether disciplinary action would be taken.
Allies attempted to deflect responsibility, with unnamed officials suggesting the post may have been shared by a junior staffer. Others claimed Trump personally acknowledged the imagery was “wrong” in private conversations. None of those explanations have been confirmed.
A spokeswoman for Barack and Michelle Obama declined to comment.
Racism, Technology, and the Mainstreaming of Extremism
Presidential historians and media analysts warned that Trump’s heavy use of A.I.-generated content has helped normalize extremist imagery and rhetoric once confined to fringe online spaces.
“This is hard-boiled racism using one of the oldest tropes imaginable,” said presidential historian Douglas Brinkley. “What’s different now is the scale and speed—artificial intelligence allows these images to circulate globally within minutes.”
Civil rights leaders compared the video to a “digital minstrel show,” warning that the use of A.I. to dehumanize political opponents represents a dangerous evolution in modern propaganda.
A Broader Cultural Reckoning
The controversy highlights growing concerns about political power, race, and digital manipulation in the 21st century. While Trump has long used provocation as a political weapon, the incident revealed limits to that strategy—at least when public pressure crosses party lines.
Whether this episode signals a lasting shift or a temporary pause remains unclear. What is certain is that the use of racist imagery by a sitting U.S. president—amplified by emerging technologies—has global implications far beyond American politics.
As Michelle Obama once stated when addressing years of attacks:
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us… doubling down on ugly, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions.”
For many observers, the deleted video was not an isolated mistake—but a reflection of a deeper, ongoing struggle over truth, power, and humanity in the digital age.