President Donald Trump shared a video on his Truth Social account containing an image of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama depicted as apes. The White House defended the post, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating it was “from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.” Leavitt urged the public to “stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
Details of the Post
The video, posted overnight, included a two-second clip of the Obamas as apes dancing in a jungle setting to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The clip was part of a minute-long video concerning alleged anomalies in voting machines and featured a watermark for PatriotNewsOutlet.com. The original AI-generated video, posted by the X user @XERIAS_X in October 2025, as well depicts other Democratic figures as animals, including Kamala Harris as a tortoise and Hakeem Jeffries as a meerkat.
The White House did not respond to questions regarding whether President Trump was aware of the Obama clip when he shared the video. The post drew immediate condemnation, including from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the behavior “disgusting” and demanded all Republicans denounce it.
Previous Controversial Posts
This is not the first time Trump’s Truth Social account has shared content criticized as racist. Last year, the account shared a video depicting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries with a fake mustache and sombrero. Jeffries, along with other critics, denounced the current post, stating the Obamas “represent the best of this country” and calling Trump a “vile, unhinged and malignant bottom feeder.”
Alongside the controversial video, Trump’s account shared other clips, including one of a dog appearing to magically receive whipped cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Karoline Leavitt’s response to the criticism?
Karoline Leavitt stated the video was “from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King” and asked that people “stop the fake outrage.”
Who created the original video clip?
The original video clip appears to have been created by the X user @XERIAS_X and was first posted in October 2025.
What was the reaction to the post?
The post was widely condemned, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling it “disgusting” and demanding a response from all Republicans. Hakeem Jeffries also denounced the post.
Given the strong reactions and the history of similar controversies, what impact will this incident have on the ongoing political discourse?
