A recent post on Donald Trump’s Truth Social account has ignited a firestorm of bipartisan condemnation and dominated social media discussions over the last 48 hours. The controversy centers on a video shared by the former president that depicted Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes—imagery that has been widely denounced as utilizing racist tropes.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of what did Trump do today, the specific content of the Trump Obama monkey video, and the furious backlash from political leaders like Tim Scott and Hakeem Jeffries.
The Incident: What Was in the Trump Obama Video?
Late Thursday, a video appeared on the official Truth Social Donald Trump account. The clip, which lasted approximately one minute, was primarily focused on repeating unverified claims regarding the 2020 election and voting machines. However, the controversy exploded due to a segment near the end of the clip.
In the footage, the faces of Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were superimposed onto the bodies of dancing primates (specifically monkeys or apes) while the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played. This specific imagery—depicting Black political figures as apes or monkeys—has a long, painful history rooted in racist dehumanization in the United States.
Users on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Truth Social immediately began circulating the clip, with searches for “Trump Obama ape video” and “Trump post about Obamas” trending rapidly.
Immediate Backlash: “Vile,” “Racist,” and “Disgusting”
The reaction was swift, extending beyond Democratic circles to include prominent Republicans.
- Tim Scott’s Condemnation: Senator Tim Scott, the Senate’s lone Black Republican and a frequent Trump ally, issued a rare and sharp rebuke. He stated on social media that he was “praying it was fake” because it was the “most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” Scott publicly called for the post to be removed immediately.
- Hakeem Jeffries’ Fury: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not mince words. In a blistering response, he labeled Trump a “malignant bottom feeder” and explicitly condemned the “Trump Obama monkey post” as a calculated racist attack. Jeffries urged other GOP leaders to break their silence and denounce the behavior.
- Public Outrage: On social media, questions like “Trump racist” and “Donald Trump Obama video” spiked as users debated the intent behind the post. Many pointed out that this was not the first time Trump posts today had targeted minority leaders with caricature-like imagery, recalling previous AI-generated attacks.
The White House and Campaign Response
Initially, the response from Trump’s camp was dismissive. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the outcry as “fake outrage,” claiming the video was merely a satirical “meme” referencing The Lion King, where Trump was depicted as the “King of the Jungle.”
However, as pressure mounted—particularly after Tim Scott’s intervention—the tone shifted.
- The Post Was Deleted: By Friday morning, the Trump Obama video had been scrubbed from Truth Social.
- Shifting Blame: Sources close to the campaign later claimed that the video was posted by a staffer and that Donald Trump had not seen the specific segment featuring the Obamas as apes before it went live.
Social Media Pulse: What Users Are Asking
Across search engines and social platforms, confusion and anger have driven high traffic. Here are the answers to the most common user queries:
Is the Trump Obama ape video real?
Yes. The video was posted to his verified Truth Social account before being deleted.
What did Trump do today regarding the post?
After deleting the post, Trump has largely pivoted to other topics on his feed, though the fallout continues in the news cycle.
Did Jack White react?
Musician Jack White is often associated with anti-Trump sentiment (having previously sued the campaign over music rights and calling out the administration). While he is a trending topic alongside this news due to his history of calling out Trump’s behavior, the primary backlash for this specific video has come from political figures like Scott and Jeffries.
Is this an AI video?
Experts suggest the video used AI or basic editing software to superimpose the faces of Obama and Michelle onto the primate bodies, a technique becoming increasingly common in political smear campaigns.
The Broader Context
This incident highlights the growing challenge of moderating inflammatory content on platforms like Truth Social. For Donald Trump, the episode complicates efforts to broaden his coalition, specifically among minority voters, as the Trump news cycle refocuses on allegations of racial insensitivity.
While the Trump post about Obama is now deleted, screenshots and discussions remain viral. The event serves as a stark reminder of the volatility of modern political discourse, where a single social media post can trigger a nationwide controversy involving figures as prominent as Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and the current Republican leadership.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.