Trump shares video depicting Obamas as monkeys, gets social media heat
A video posted by US President Donald Trump on social media featuring former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes has sparked widespread criticism from Democrats. Former national security advisor Ben Rhodes said that Trump would be remembered as a "stain" in history.
US President Donald Trump has come under fire from the opposition Democratic Party after sharing a controversial one-minute video on his Truth Social platform portraying Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes. The video repeats unsubstantiated claims that Dominion Voting Systems was involved in the theft of the 2020 election. Posted on Thursday, the clip features brief images of the former US President and his wife superimposed on ape bodies, set to the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
A post by Trump sharing the video on Truth Social has gone viral.
The video drew condemnation from several public figures, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling Trump’s behaviour "disgusting" and urging Republican leaders to speak out. Newsom, who is considered a potential candidate in the 2028 presidential race, publicly wrote on X, "Disgusting behaviour by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now."
Former national security advisor Ben Rhodes, who has worked closely with Barack Obama, also criticised Trump and his supporters. Rhodes said that Trump would be remembered as a "stain" in history, using the words "stain" and "racist" in his statement.
Rhodes further posted on X, "Let it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying him as a stain on our history."
Time and again, Trump has used artificial intelligence to produce videos targeting Black political figures. Last year, he posted a video depicting Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office and shown behind bars dressed in an orange jumpsuit.
Another video shared by Trump portrayed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is also Black, with a manipulated appearance, wearing a fake moustache and sombrero through AI-generated imagery.
Obama, who remains the only Black president in American history, supported Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential campaign against Trump. The latest post on the Obamas has led critics to renew accusations of racism.
US President Donald Trump has come under fire from the opposition Democratic Party after sharing a controversial one-minute video on his Truth Social platform portraying Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes. The video repeats unsubstantiated claims that Dominion Voting Systems was involved in the theft of the 2020 election. Posted on Thursday, the clip features brief images of the former US President and his wife superimposed on ape bodies, set to the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
A post by Trump sharing the video on Truth Social has gone viral.
The video drew condemnation from several public figures, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling Trump’s behaviour "disgusting" and urging Republican leaders to speak out. Newsom, who is considered a potential candidate in the 2028 presidential race, publicly wrote on X, "Disgusting behaviour by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now."
Former national security advisor Ben Rhodes, who has worked closely with Barack Obama, also criticised Trump and his supporters. Rhodes said that Trump would be remembered as a "stain" in history, using the words "stain" and "racist" in his statement.
Rhodes further posted on X, "Let it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying him as a stain on our history."
Time and again, Trump has used artificial intelligence to produce videos targeting Black political figures. Last year, he posted a video depicting Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office and shown behind bars dressed in an orange jumpsuit.
Another video shared by Trump portrayed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is also Black, with a manipulated appearance, wearing a fake moustache and sombrero through AI-generated imagery.
Obama, who remains the only Black president in American history, supported Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential campaign against Trump. The latest post on the Obamas has led critics to renew accusations of racism.