WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used his social media account to share a video about election conspiracy theories that includes a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle.
The Republican president’s Thursday night post immediately drew backlash for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady. It was part of a flurry of social media activity that amplified Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite courts around the country and a Trump attorney general from his first term finding no evidence of fraud that could have affected the outcome.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected criticism of the post that depicted the Obamas, saying, This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.
Nearly all of the 62-second clip, which was among dozens of Truth Social posts from Trump, appears to be from a conservative video alleging deliberate tampering with voting machines in battleground states. At the 60-second mark, a quick scene of two primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them, is displayed.
The group Republicans Against Trump criticized the post, labeling it racist and stating, There’s no bottom. Trump’s history is filled with instances of personal criticism toward the Obamas, as well as the use of incendiary rhetoric.
Critics also point to Trump’s long-standing claim that Obama was not born in the U.S., along with other derogatory remarks made during his presidency. Despite the backlash, Trump has shown little to no remorse, continuing to share memes and videos that many perceive as disrespectful toward the Obamas.
The Republican president’s Thursday night post immediately drew backlash for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady. It was part of a flurry of social media activity that amplified Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite courts around the country and a Trump attorney general from his first term finding no evidence of fraud that could have affected the outcome.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected criticism of the post that depicted the Obamas, saying, This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.
Nearly all of the 62-second clip, which was among dozens of Truth Social posts from Trump, appears to be from a conservative video alleging deliberate tampering with voting machines in battleground states. At the 60-second mark, a quick scene of two primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them, is displayed.
The group Republicans Against Trump criticized the post, labeling it racist and stating, There’s no bottom. Trump’s history is filled with instances of personal criticism toward the Obamas, as well as the use of incendiary rhetoric.
Critics also point to Trump’s long-standing claim that Obama was not born in the U.S., along with other derogatory remarks made during his presidency. Despite the backlash, Trump has shown little to no remorse, continuing to share memes and videos that many perceive as disrespectful toward the Obamas.
