President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video on Truth Social late Wednesday that portrayed Barack and Michelle Obama as apes while repeating claims of fraud tied to the 2020 election.
Trump wrote that the post highlighted election fraud narratives he says were ignored by the media.
The clip originated from a pro-Trump account on X and was reposted by the President, paired with The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens. It circulated widely before being amplified by the President’s account to a larger audience.
The video immediately ignited backlash across the political spectrum, with critics accusing the President of amplifying racist imagery and questioning whether he knew the specific content before posting. Critics said context did not erase the visual comparison shown in the clip.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) press office condemned the post on X, calling it “disgusting behavior” and demanding every Republican publicly denounce the video without delay. Newsom allies framed the post as beneath the office and demanded accountability.
Anti-Trump Republicans also reacted online, with the account Republicans Against Trump writing that there is no bottom after the President shared what it described as racist depictions. Others said silence from party leaders was unacceptable.
Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko posted that the video was “overt racism,” saying there was no misinterpretation and no excuse for portraying the Obamas in that manner. He added that leadership requires restraint.
The White House refused to apologize and instead pushed back against the outrage, telling reporters the clip was an internet meme that framed Trump as the King of the Jungle. Officials declined further comment when pressed.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meme depicted Democrats as Lion King characters and urged critics to stop what she called “fake outrage” and focus on real issues. She argued voters care about policy outcomes, per the Daily Mail.
The episode revived attention on Trump’s long feud with Barack Obama, which dates back to birther claims and years of personal attacks exchanged in public. The rivalry has shaped years of online exchanges.
Trump has repeatedly accused Obama of “treason” and has shared AI-generated images showing the former president arrested or imprisoned during his second term. Supporters view the attacks as accountability.
The president claims Obama betrayed the U.S. by spying on his 2016 campaign, allegations tied to the “Russia investigation” that Democrats have long rejected. Democrats label the claims conspiratorial.
Despite the condemnation, engagement on Truth Social remained strong, with the video receiving thousands of likes and more than a thousand reposts within hours. Metrics showed a rapid spread across platforms.
Some supporters argued the outrage was manufactured, while critics warned the post further lowered the standard of presidential conduct and inflamed racial tensions.
