A new controversy erupted after President Donald Trump shared a racially offensive image late Thursday night that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. The post, shared from Trump’s official Truth Social account, quickly drew condemnation from civil rights groups, Democratic leaders, and even some Republicans.
The image appeared as part of a video promoting a debunked conspiracy theory about voting machines used in the 2020 presidential election. The clip portrayed Trump as the “king of the jungle,” while several leading Democrats were shown as animals. The Obamas’ depiction, however, stood out for its overtly racist nature.
Despite the backlash, the administration stood by the president. Addressing questions Friday morning, the White House defended the post, dismissing the outrage as overblown. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the video was simply an internet meme likening Trump to a lion and Democrats to characters from The Lion King.
“Please stop the fake outrage and report on something that actually matters to the American public,” Leavitt said in a statement, which also included a link to a longer version of the video originally shared by a pro-Trump meme account on X in October.
The extended video goes beyond the Obamas, showing animal caricatures bearing the faces of several prominent Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Trump, meanwhile, is portrayed as a lion, with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” playing in the background.
Newsom’s office responded sharply on X, calling the video “disgusting behavior by the President” and urging every Republican lawmaker to denounce it.
Civil rights organizations also weighed in. The NAACP criticized Trump’s decision to share the clip, noting that it was posted during Black History Month. The group said the video reflected how Trump and his supporters view Black Americans and warned voters would not forget the incident in November.
Not all Republicans remained silent. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the Senate and a close Trump ally, condemned the post, saying he hoped it was fake and calling it “the most racist thing” he had seen from the White House. Scott urged the president to delete the post.
Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, a Republican facing a tough reelection battle, also criticized the image, calling it “wrong and incredibly offensive” and saying it should be taken down immediately with an apology.
Democrats seized on the moment to pressure GOP leaders to speak out. Jeffries praised the Obamas as exemplary Americans and blasted Trump in a scathing post, questioning why Republican leadership continued to support him. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois described the imagery as “Jim Crow–style dehumanization” and said it was a disgrace to the presidency.
The Obama Foundation did not immediately comment.
As the debate continues, the episode has intensified scrutiny of Trump’s rhetoric and online behavior, underscoring how racially charged content can still dominate the political conversation. The controversy, now widely summarized as Trump shares racist image depicting the Obamas as apes; White House comes to his defense, adds yet another flashpoint to an already volatile election season.
