Donald Trump, a figure whose political career has long been defined by a refusal to observe traditional guardrails, is facing a fresh wave of condemnation this week. Critics across the political spectrum are labeling his latest social media activity as “vile” and “overtly racist” following a post that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys.
The controversy centers on a video shared to Trump’s Truth Social platform. The one-minute clip largely serves as a vehicle for familiar conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election and Dominion Voting Systems. However, the closing seconds of the video contain a jarring visual: the faces of the Obamas superimposed onto monkeys, bobbing to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
A Rapid and Polarized Reaction
As of Friday morning, the post had garnered more than 2,500 likes and 1,100 shares, serving as a lightning rod for immediate blowback. The press office of California Governor Gavin Newsom was among the first to issue a blistering rebuke, calling it “disgusting behavior by the President” and demanding that every Republican lawmaker issue a formal denunciation.
Adam Parkhomenko, a prominent political strategist, echoed that sentiment, framing the post as a definitive moment for the former president’s public image. “This is overt racism. Full stop,” Parkhomenko stated. “There’s no ‘misinterpretation’ and no excuse. This is who he is, who he’s always been, and why he should never be anywhere near power again.”
The reaction among the digital public was equally intense and deeply divided. On one side, users expressed profound disillusionment. “Can’t believe I voted for you, Mr. President. It’s a new low every day,” wrote one commenter. Another critic was more scathing, suggesting that such imagery placed Trump “two steps below contempt.”
Conversely, the post also drew a wave of support from the president’s base. Supporters brushed aside the racial implications, instead focusing on his broader message. “God bless you, Sir!” one user wrote, while others urged Republicans to “grow a spine” and focus on his claims of voter fraud.
Context of a Three-Hour Spree
The video was not an isolated thought but rather a single entry in a relentless three-hour digital blitz. During that window, Trump shared over 60 posts on Truth Social, a barrage that included:
- Repeated, unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election.
- The promotion of a Super Bowl advertisement.
- A call for his own likeness to be added to Mount Rushmore.
The White House Defense: “Internet Meme”
As the outrage trended across platforms, the White House moved to neutralize the narrative. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash as a manufactured controversy, framing the video as harmless satire.
“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King,” Leavitt said in a statement. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
Historically, the use of simian imagery toward Black figures has been recognized as a deep-seated and harmful trope. Social scientists note that such depictions have been used for centuries to dehumanize and marginalize, making this specific “meme” particularly volatile in the current political climate.
The Obamas, who have frequently been the targets of Trump’s digital ire, have not yet issued a public response to the video. As the fallout continues, the incident serves as yet another test of where the American electorate draws the line between “anti-establishment” humor and rhetoric that many consider beyond the pale.
