Donald Trump Sparks Outrage with Racist AI Video of Barack and Michelle Obama as Apes
Donald Trump is facing backlash after posting a controversial AI-generated video on his Truth Social account late Thursday. The 62-second clip depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with their faces on ape bodies, dancing in a jungle to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
The video primarily focused on a 2020 election conspiracy theory, claiming that voting machines in certain battleground states were rigged in favor of Joe Biden. The Obamas only appeared in the final few seconds of the segment.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to a request for comment from Variety, writing in an emailed statement, “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
The video Trump shared is based on a clip originally posted in October 2025 by an account called @xerias_x. That version featured Trump as a lion, with various Democrats portrayed as animals: Joe Biden as a baboon, Kamala Harris as a tortoise, Chuck Schumer as a zebra, Hakeem Jeffries as a meerkat, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a donkey, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a hyena, and Hillary Clinton as a warthog. The account also created another AI video that October showing Trump as a king in a fighter jet attacking “No Kings” protesters in New York City.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office condemned the video, calling it “disgusting behavior by the President” and urging all Republicans to publicly denounce it.
Disgusting behavior by the President.
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 6, 2026
Every single Republican must denounce this. Now. https://t.co/X09h1mcj74
This latest post adds to ongoing debates about the use of AI in politics and the limits of online platforms for public figures. Many critics argue that videos like this are offensive and racially insensitive, while Trump’s supporters echo the White House claim that it is satire.
The video has sparked widespread outrage online, with discussions about accountability and the responsibility of political leaders continuing to trend across social media.
What do you think about Trump sharing this AI video? Do you see it as satire or something more serious? Share your thoughts in the comments.