Editor’s note: This story contains offensive imagery.
Washington — President Trump posted to social media late Thursday a video promoting false claims about the 2020 election that includes racist footage depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
The video, just over a minute long, shows the Obamas’ heads edited onto the bodies of primates, with the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” playing toward the end of the clip.
Mr. Trump shared the video to his Truth Social account at 11:44 p.m. Thursday. Obama was the nation’s first Black president, and Michelle Obama was the first Black first lady. Mr. Trump has a history of sharing disparaging memes about the Obamas and previously amplified a conspiracy theory that Obama was born in Kenya.
A spokeswoman for the Obamas stated they are not commenting at this time. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the video is “from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” and urged people to “stop the fake outrage.”
The video also depicts other Democratic figures as animals, including Hillary Clinton as a warthog, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a donkey, and Chuck Schumer as a zebra. Mr. Trump is portrayed as a lion.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemned the footage. Senator Tim Scott, a Republican, called it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and urged its removal. Republican Representative Mike Lawler also called for the post to be deleted with an apology. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries described Mr. Trump as “a vile, unhinged and malignant bottom feeder.”
The video also makes unfounded allegations about voting machines from Dominion Voting Systems. Dominion has pursued defamation lawsuits against media outlets and individuals who spread false claims about the 2020 election, resulting in settlements with Fox News and Newsmax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did President Trump post on social media?
President Trump posted a video to his Truth Social account that included footage depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
What was the White House’s response to the criticism?
White House press secretary 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 urged people to “stop the fake outrage.”
What claims does the video make about the 2020 election?
The video promotes false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against Mr. Trump and makes unfounded allegations about voting machines from Dominion Voting Systems.
As this story develops, will the fallout from this post influence the political landscape and potentially impact future elections?
