Donald Trump posted a video on Truth Social that depicted Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes. The clip portrayed the former president and former first lady in a racist manner. Trump shared the content amid claims about the 2020 election. He later deleted the post after widespread backlash.
Public Reaction
The video sparked condemnation from both parties. Republicans labeled the imagery offensive. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt dismissed criticism. Levitt said the video showed Trump as king of the jungle and the Obamas as characters from The Lion King.
She added, “The Lion King does not have any characters depicted as apes.” Moreover Trump refused to apologize. He stated, “No, I didn’t make a mistake.”
Obama’s Response
Barack Obama addressed the issue in an interview on the No Lie podcast with Brian Tyler Cohen. Obama did not name Trump but criticized the decline in political decorum. He said, “It’s important to recognise that the majority of the American people find this behaviour deeply troubling. It is true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction.”
Additionally, Obama lamented the loss of shame among officials. He remarked, “And what is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?”
Furthermore Obama described American politics as a clown show. He emphasized that many Americans still valued decency and kindness.
Broader Implications
Obama framed the incident as part of a broader collapse in discourse. He urged higher standards from public officials. The event highlighted ongoing tensions in US politics.
