WASHINGTON, Feb 6, (V7N) – US President Donald Trump sparked widespread outrage Friday after posting a video on his Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys.

The one-second clip, set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, was part of a longer video promoting false claims that Dominion Voting Systems manipulated the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president.

The video drew sharp condemnation from Democrats and even some Republicans. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump as “vile, unhinged and malignant” and urged all Republicans to denounce the post. Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate and a 2024 presidential contender, called the video “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and demanded its removal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism, saying the clip was “from an internet meme video” and urging the media to “stop the fake outrage.”

The Obamas have not publicly commented on the post.

Trump has repeatedly used provocative, AI-generated visuals on social media to glorify himself and mock opponents, including videos last year showing Obama behind bars and other controversial imagery. Critics say these posts exacerbate racial tensions and undermine civil rights gains, with former Obama aide Ben Rhodes calling the video a “stain on our history.”

The episode adds to ongoing concerns over Trump’s use of social media to promote racially charged content, coming during his first year of a second term in office and amid broader criticism of his attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the US.

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