President Donald Trump briefly ignited outrage online after sharing a racially offensive video targeting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama — before quietly deleting the post.
The video, which appeared on Trump’s Truth Social account early Tuesday morning, depicted the Obamas as apes, a trope long condemned as racist. The clip circulated rapidly before being removed, drawing swift condemnation from civil rights advocates, Democratic lawmakers, and historians who said the imagery echoed some of the ugliest chapters of American racism.
By 9:09 a.m. Pacific Time, the post was gone. No apology followed.
The White House did not immediately explain why the video was shared or whether the president personally approved it. As of Tuesday afternoon, Trump had not publicly addressed the incident.
“This is not just offensive. It’s dangerous,” said Rep. Jamal Everett, a Democrat from Illinois. “When the sitting president amplifies racist imagery, it legitimizes hate and invites real-world consequences.”
The Obamas, who have faced racist attacks and conspiracy theories for years, have not responded publicly. During his presidency, Obama was frequently targeted by baseless claims questioning his citizenship — rhetoric Trump himself promoted before entering politics.
Civil rights groups said the video fit a long-running pattern.
“We’ve seen this playbook before,” said Maya Richardson of the American Justice Coalition. “When President Trump feels politically cornered, he lashes out with dehumanizing content that distracts from policy failures and rallies the most extreme corners of his base.”
Trump and the Obamas have had a notoriously tense relationship dating back more than a decade. Obama once mocked Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a moment many observers believe fueled Trump’s political ambitions. Since then, Trump has repeatedly attacked Obama’s legacy, from healthcare reform to foreign policy, often using inflammatory language.
Democratic leaders said the timing of the post was especially troubling, coming amid growing national debates over race, education, and civil rights protections during Trump’s second presidency.
“This isn’t random,” said Democratic strategist Alana Perez. “It’s a signal. And it tells us exactly how this White House views accountability, decency, and race in America.”
Even some Republicans appeared uneasy. One GOP aide, speaking anonymously, described the video as “indefensible” and said it risked alienating moderate voters ahead of a volatile election year.
As screenshots of the video continue to circulate online, critics say deleting the post does little to undo the damage.
“You don’t get to erase this with a click,” Everett said. “The message was sent. The country saw it.”
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Check it our not done by Trump. Maybe Democrat??????