Donald Trump has sparked outrage after posting a Truth Social video that ended with an image depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys. The post, part of a conspiracy video claiming the 2020 election was “stolen,” was widely condemned as racist.
The clip briefly showed the Obamas’ faces on animated monkeys, leading to strong backlash from politicians and social media users. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office called it “disgusting behavior,” while political strategist Adam Parkhomenko labeled it “overt racism.”
Some users expressed regret for supporting Trump, while others defended him. The post was part of a rapid series of more than 60 messages Trump shared in a few hours.
The White House dismissed the criticism, saying the image came from an internet meme and accusing critics of “fake outrage.” The Obamas have not responded.