President Donald Trump is facing heavy criticism after
sharing a video on Truth Social that shows former President Barack Obama and
former First Lady Michelle Obama portrayed as apes. The short clip appeared
late Thursday night and quickly drew strong reactions from across the political
spectrum.
The video uses scenes styled like a jungle animation and
briefly flashes the Obamas’ faces on ape bodies while “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
plays in the background. The clip is part of a longer video promoting false
claims about the 2020 election.
Civil rights groups and political leaders say the imagery
plays into a long history of racist attacks used to demean Black people. A
spokesperson for the Obamas declined to comment.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed
the criticism and called it “fake outrage.” She said the video was just an
internet meme portraying Trump as “King of the Jungle” and Democrats as
characters inspired by The Lion King.
But several Republicans condemned the post.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black
Republican in the Senate, said he hoped the video was fake because “it’s the
most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” He urged Trump to delete
it.
New York Republican Mike Lawler also demanded the post be
taken down, saying it was “wrong and incredibly offensive,” and called on Trump
to apologize.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office criticized the
video as “disgusting behavior” and urged every Republican leader to speak out.
The clip appears to come from a meme that first circulated
last October, showing Trump as a lion and various Democratic figures as
different animals. In that version, the Obama depiction was also included, and
the video ended with the animals bowing to Trump.
This isn’t the first time Trump has faced backlash for
sharing racially insensitive or doctored content. Last year, he reposted a fake
video showing Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office. His
administration also circulated altered images of House Minority Leader Hakeem
Jeffries wearing a fake mustache and sombrero — imagery Jeffries said was
racist.
The latest controversy adds to growing concerns about the
president’s online behavior as he continues to use memes and edited videos to
attack political rivals.
If you find my content helpful, consider buying me a coffee to show your appreciation and help me continue creating.
Buy Me a Coffee