‘Disgusting behaviour’: Trump faces backlash for video depicting Obamas as apes

US President Donald Trump is facing widespread criticism after posting a video on his Truth Social account that showed former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with their faces superimposed on ape bodies.

The one-minute clip also repeats false claims that ballot-counting company Dominion Voting Systems helped rig the 2020 presidential election against Trump. The segment featuring the Obamas is accompanied by the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Democrats condemn the post

As of Friday, the video had received more than 2,500 likes and over 1,100 reposts, even as prominent Democrats denounced it. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a vocal Trump critic and potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, called the post “disgusting” and urged all Republicans to denounce it. Ben Rhodes, former national security adviser to Barack Obama, said Trump would be remembered negatively in history and described his followers as “racist.”

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Trump’s past use of AI to mock leaders

Trump has previously used artificial intelligence to target world leaders. Last year, he shared an AI-generated video showing Obama behind bars in an orange jumpsuit and another depicting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a fake moustache and sombrero. Obama, the only Black president in US history, had supported Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.

White House dismisses criticism

The White House rejected the backlash as “fake outrage,” saying the video was part of an internet meme. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the clip depicted Trump as “King of the Jungle” and Democrats as characters from The Lion King, urging media to focus on more pressing issues.