US President Donald Trump has attracted severe criticism over his derogatory social media post on former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. A video shared on Trump's Truth Social account depicted the Obamas as primates in a jungle.
The controversial video was removed on Friday after a widespread backlash, including sharp criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Amid the backlash, President Donald Trump condemned the video, but he did not take responsibility for the racist post and refused to apologise.
Officials at the White House defended the post when it surfaced on Friday, but it was taken down around 12 hours later, as per a Reuters report.
According to an Associated Press (AP) report, most of the 62-second video is lifted from a conservative video that falsely claims voting machines were deliberately manipulated in key swing states during the 2020 count. Briefly, just before the clip ends, it cuts to an image of two jungle primates bearing the digitally superimposed faces of Barack and Michelle Obama.
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“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, as per the AP report.
“Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public,” she added.
According to Reuters, when Trump was asked if he condemns the post, he said, “Of course I do."
"I looked at the first part, and it was really about voter fraud in the machines, how crooked it is, how disgusting it is. Then I gave it to the people. Generally, they look at the whole thing. But I guess somebody didn't."
“I didn't make a mistake. I mean, I give - I look at a lot - thousands of things,” Trump added.
The video has gone viral on social media. One user said, “If you are defending Trump over his Obama ape video. You are a racist.”
Let's be clear.
— Happy in the Middle (@HappyMiddleNC) February 6, 2026
If you are defending Trump over his Obama ape video.
You are a racist.
It is the most disgustingthing I have ever seen posted by a public figure.
Another user said, “There's no single leader in the Developed World that survives that ‘Obama - Ape' post. The UK PM would be gone before noon. France, Germany, etc. All gone. And the ones who'd survive - the likes of Putin & Xi - wouldn't post it. Because they aren't stupid. Except Trump.”
There's no single leader in the Developed World that survives that “Obama - Ape” post.
— Ovie (@OvieO) February 6, 2026
The UK PM would be gone before noon.
France, Germany, etc. All gone.
And the ones who'd survive - the likes of Putin & Xi - wouldn't post it. Because they aren't stupid.
Except Trump.
Another user called the outrage over the video an “emotional trap.”
Every time Trump roasts a politician who happens to be Black, the media cries "racism" to force black people into an emotional trap.
— Farai Mazhindu (@FaraiMazhindu) February 6, 2026
It's a political roast, period. Barack and Michelle are public figures, not off-limits icons.
The claim that every Black person is "supposed" to… pic.twitter.com/NqkX7ee8GQ
“The message is clear that they don't like or want us in their country and I would personally advise all black races to trace their origins back home,” said another account.
President Donald Trump made this post of Barrack Obama and Michelle Obama depicting an ape ????
— George (@GeedoMetaX) February 6, 2026
The message is clear that they don't like or want us in their country and I would personally advise all black races to trace their origins back home.
Africa is blessed and big enough… pic.twitter.com/jmX6tZMwzl
Former US Vice President Kamala Harris said, “No one believes this cover-up from the White House, especially since they originally defended the post. We are all clear-eyed about who Donald Trump is and what he believes.”
No one believes this cover up from the White House, especially since they originally defended the post. We are all clear-eyed about who Donald Trump is and what he believes. https://t.co/RbUsqAtQzD
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 6, 2026
According to AP, the post was one of several messages shared overnight on Trump's Truth Social account, all echoing his long-standing but unproven allegations that the 2020 vote was illegitimate. Judges across the country and his first-term attorney general have consistently dismissed claims of systemic wrongdoing.
The President's comments followed a day of conflicting explanations from within the White House. While a spokesperson initially played down the video as a harmless internet joke, a separate official later conceded it had been posted in error and removed, in a rare instance of the administration stepping back from its defence of Trump, reported Reuters.
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