Donald Trump has once again ignited a firestorm by sharing a deeply offensive video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes on his Truth Social platform. The post, which emerged late Thursday night and was deleted Friday after bipartisan condemnation, has resurfaced a disturbing history of racist imagery and Trump's own patterns of behavior. While Trump eventually removed the video, he adamantly refuses to apologize, deepening the chasm of outrage and raising critical questions about accountability and the perpetuation of hate.
The gravity of this incident cannot be overstated. The imagery used directly invokes a historical and vile racist trope, designed to dehumanize Black individuals. That a former U.S. President would not only share but defend such content, even in part, speaks volumes about the standards being set and the deep-seated prejudices that persist in public discourse. This isn't just a social media gaffe; it's a deliberate or negligent act that has consequences for racial harmony and the very fabric of American society.
A Familiar Pattern: From Birtherism to "Apes"
This latest transgression by Donald Trump is not an isolated incident. It follows a long and disturbing pattern of him engaging with and amplifying racist narratives, particularly targeting Barack Obama.
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The Birther Conspiracy: Before becoming president, Trump was a leading proponent of the racist "birther" conspiracy theory, falsely claiming that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and was therefore ineligible to be president. This deeply offensive fabrication, which Trump persistently pushed for years, played on xenophobic fears and sought to delegitimize the nation's first Black president.
Targeting Obama's Heritage: Trump has a documented history of animosity towards Barack Obama, often using divisive rhetoric and false claims. This includes questioning Obama's birthplace and promoting conspiracy theories that undermined his presidency.
Past Racially Charged Social Media Activity: This incident with the "apes" video is not the first time Trump's social media presence has been flagged for racially insensitive content. He has previously been criticized for sharing memes and posts that have been described as racist or promoting hateful ideologies. For instance, in a prior instance, he shared a video of Hakeem Jeffries, a Black congressman, with a fake mustache and sombrero, which was widely condemned as a racist attack.
The "Monkeys" Trope: The specific imagery of depicting Black individuals as apes or monkeys is a historical slur with roots in slavery and the Jim Crow era. It was used to dehumanize Black people, strip them of their humanity, and justify discrimination and violence. By sharing this video, Trump amplified this abhorrent legacy.
The Bipartisan Backlash: A Rare Moment of Unity
The immediate and widespread condemnation of Trump's post, notably including criticism from within his own Republican party, highlighted the severity of the offense.
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"We are not apes." - A statement from the group X
The fact that the video drew ire from both Democrats and Republicans underscores its overtly racist nature. Figures who often align with Trump were compelled to denounce his actions, a testament to how far outside the bounds of acceptable discourse this particular post was perceived to be.
| Critic | Party Affiliation | Statement / Action | Source Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Scott | Republican | Called the post racist and urged Trump to remove it. | Article 1, 3, 4 |
| Hakeem Jeffries | Democrat | Called Trump "vile, unhinged and malignant." | Article 5, 8 |
| Nick LaLota | Republican | Urged Trump to delete the post. | Article 3 |
| Unidentified Senator | Republican | Stated the video was "blatantly racist." | Article 8 |
This rare show of bipartisan unity in condemnation, however, quickly dissolved when Trump refused to apologize. This refusal signals a lack of remorse and suggests that such actions may be repeated.
Trump's Defense: "About Fraudulent Elections"?
Adding a layer of bizarre rationalization to the incident, Trump reportedly told reporters that the video was "about fraudulent elections." This claim, however, has been met with widespread skepticism and disbelief.
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Lack of Connection: There is no discernible or logical connection between depicting the Obamas as apes and claims of election fraud. This appears to be a deflection or an attempt to reframe the offensive imagery through a partisan lens, rather than acknowledging its inherent racism.
Historical Precedent: Trump has a history of pushing false claims about election integrity, particularly after his defeat in 2020. However, linking these claims to racist caricatures is a new and deeply troubling escalation.
"Liked What I Saw": Reports indicate Trump also stated he "liked what he saw" in the video. This comment is particularly disturbing, suggesting a positive reception to the racist imagery before its deletion.
"Trump told reporters that he didn't watch the whole video, just the beginning." - CNBC
This statement raises further questions. If he only saw the beginning, what was it about the "beginning" that resonated positively enough to share, and what was the context he claimed was about "fraudulent elections"?
The Obamas' Silence and the Blame Game
As of the latest reports, neither Barack Obama nor Michelle Obama have publicly commented on the video or Trump's sharing of it. Their silence, while understandable given the deeply personal nature of such an attack, leaves a void where their perspective could offer further weight to the condemnation.
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Meanwhile, the White House has offered a curious defense: blaming a staffer for posting the video in error.
"The White House said earlier, after the video was removed, that a staffer had posted it in error." - CNN
This "staffer error" explanation seems convenient, particularly given Trump's subsequent refusal to apologize. If it was indeed an error, why would the individual who ostensibly made the error face repercussions, or why would Trump defend the content if he truly believed it was an accidental posting?
Who is the Staffer? The identity of this staffer has not been revealed, making the "staffer error" defense difficult to verify.
Trump's Acquiescence: Trump's own statements suggest he was aware of the video and, to some extent, endorsed its content before its deletion. His claim that he "liked what he saw" directly contradicts the idea of a simple staff error.
The Dark History and Dehumanization
The use of ape imagery to dehumanize Black people is not a new phenomenon. It's a tactic rooted in the ugliest chapters of history.
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Eugenics and Jim Crow: This imagery was prevalent during the Jim Crow era and in the discourse surrounding eugenics, used to justify segregation, discrimination, and violence by portraying Black people as less evolved or less human.
Perpetuation of Stereotypes: By sharing such content, Trump not only revived these hateful tropes but also legitimized them for his followers, potentially contributing to a climate where racism is more openly expressed and tolerated.
Impact on Public Discourse: When public figures, especially those who hold or have held the highest office, engage with or amplify racist imagery, it normalizes such behavior and can embolden others to do the same. This pollutes the public discourse and creates a more hostile environment for minority groups.
"President Donald Trump's social media account shared a clip of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama's faces transposed on a monkey-like illustration, a racist image rooted in eugenics and the Jim Crow era." - USA Today
Questions That Linger
This incident leaves more questions than answers, demanding deeper scrutiny.
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Why did Trump share the video in the first place? Was it intentional, or a genuine lapse in judgment fueled by his own biases?
If the "staffer error" defense holds water, why did Trump not unequivocally condemn the content and apologize for its dissemination, rather than offering a cryptic defense about "fraudulent elections"?
What is the impact of this incident on the Republican party? How much longer can they tolerate or excuse such behavior from a prominent figure within their ranks?
What is the responsibility of Truth Social as a platform in moderating content that is overtly racist and harmful?
What steps, if any, will be taken to ensure such egregious content is not shared again, either by Trump or others on the platform?
Will the Obamas feel compelled to speak out, and what would their statement signify?
The Unapologetic Truth: A Deeply Troubling Signal
Donald Trump's refusal to apologize for sharing a video that depicted the Obamas as apes is a profound and deeply troubling signal. It suggests an unwillingness to acknowledge the harm caused by racist imagery, a lack of remorse, and a continuation of a pattern that has repeatedly injected divisive and hateful rhetoric into American political discourse. The brief period of bipartisan condemnation was a glimmer of hope, but Trump's subsequent defense and refusal to apologize have extinguished it, leaving a stark reminder of the challenges that remain in confronting racism at the highest levels of power.
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This is not merely a political squabble; it is a moral reckoning. The perpetuation of racist tropes, even through the guise of "memes" or alleged "staff errors," erodes trust, deepens societal divisions, and ultimately damages the democratic ideals we strive to uphold. The public deserves clear accountability, not deflection and denial.
Sources
NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-shares-racist-video-depicting-obamas-monkeys-rcna257756
AP News: https://apnews.com/article/trump-obama-racist-video-a48a6b8884a88f9ec30cd4913e352b51
CNN Politics: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/06/politics/donald-trump-obamas-apes-truth-social
CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/06/trump-obama-post-white-house.html
TIME: https://time.com/7372734/trump-obama-monkey-video-republican-criticism-racist-trope/
USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/06/donald-trump-racist-meme-obama-explained/88544923007/
Gulf News: https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/trump-posts-then-deletes-racist-clip-of-obamas-as-monkeys-1.500434167
