Outrage as Trump shares video depicting Barack Obama, Wife as monkeys

US President Donald Trump has come under fire after sharing a video widely criticised as racist, depicting former president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as monkeys.

Trump posted the video early Friday on his Truth Social platform while reiterating claims of irregularities in the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden, Obama’s former vice-president.

In the one-minute clip, Phil Waldron, who is identified in the video as a cybersecurity expert, alleged what he described as “treachery” during the election process.

“Five key states all stopped counting votes at the same time,” Waldron said in the video.

He further claimed that the states used vote-counting machines equipped with software designed to manipulate results.

“When reporting and counting resumed, a massive spike occurred that favoured Joe Biden,” Waldron added.

Trump shared the video twice on his platform. Towards the end of the clip, AI-generated images depict Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys dancing to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” a song popularised by Disney’s The Lion King franchise.

The post immediately drew condemnation from political figures and the public.

In a statement issued by the press office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, the video was described as unacceptable.

“Disgusting behavior by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now,” the statement read.

The video also sparked outrage on social media, where many users described it as racist and offensive, accusing the president of promoting racial stereotypes and inflammatory rhetoric.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, @PLClaw1972 said: “If you support Donald Trump and his administration, you support racism. If you support racism, you are a racist.”

@curtisklan5: “Wow!! Can a president be thrown out of office for racism and blatant disregard for human rights?? Asking because none of our representatives knows what their job is”

@phenomaj84: “Racist President who wishes he was as popular and loved as President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama”

@TerryAnneUSA: “It’s almost laughable how much Donnie is so threatened by the Obamas. Someone on his staff needs to tell him that this is not acceptable behavior.”

@diskusi_: “Disgusting racist act from the Potus. Unbelievable, how people still give him their trust.”

@Mountainlady7: “The 77 million who voted for Trump must be very proud of the person they elected to be president of the USA.

“The world is watching this extremely mean – immature, unhinged, deranged person, wondering if this was the only choice Republicans had. It is mind blowing.”

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