President Donald Trump drew sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans after sharing a controversial video on Truth Social that depicted former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle setting.
The Controversial Post and Immediate Response
The 62-second video, posted overnight among dozens of Truth Social posts, primarily focused on allegations of voting machine tampering during the 2020 election. However, at the 60-second mark, a brief scene showed two primates with the Obamas’ faces superimposed on them. The post was later deleted, with the White House attributing it to a staff member’s error.
Republican Senator Tim Scott, who leads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called the post “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and urged its removal. The depiction of Black Americans as apes represents a historically racist trope used to justify slavery and violence against African Americans.
Illinois Democrats Condemn the Video
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded directly, posting “Donald Trump is a racist” on social media. The Democratic Party of Illinois released a statement calling the timing during Black History Month “a calculated choice and a disgrace.” Senator Dick Durbin described the video as a “scurrilous attack” beneath the dignity of the presidential office during a Friday morning event in Chicago.
Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, currently running for Congress, called Trump’s behavior “traumatizing” to Black communities and questioned why his administration continues defending such actions.
White House Defense and Historical Context
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the post, claiming it depicted Trump as “King of the Jungle” with Democrats as Lion King characters. She dismissed criticism as “fake outrage” and urged the media to focus on issues mattering to Americans. The Obama family declined to comment through a spokesperson. This controversy echoes the 2018 cancellation of Roseanne Barr’s television show after she made similar comparisons involving former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett.