In a bombshell controversy that's rocking the political landscape, Donald Trump is doubling down on a racially inflammatory AI-generated video that surfaced on his Truth Social account, refusing to apologize for its depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
On Friday, aboard Air Force One, Trump was grilled by reporters about the now-deleted clip, which set the internet ablaze with its shocking imagery. "No, I didn't make a mistake," Trump declared, standing firm against calls for an apology. The video, set to The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," also featured Trump's face on a lion, while other political figures were portrayed as animals—Joe Biden as a monkey and Kamala Harris as a turtle, adding fuel to the fire.
Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 5, 2026. Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty
Initially, TheEntBase reported the video was posted by a White House staffer in error and quickly removed. But Trump's latest comments suggest he personally endorsed the content, telling journalists, "I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine... I guess it was a takeoff on The Lion King and certainly it was a very strong post in terms of voter fraud." This remark ties into his long history of spreading false claims about election interference, further polarizing the debate.
Trump did acknowledge the final segment—the Obama ape imagery—was problematic, claiming he was unaware of it when shared. "Nobody knew that that was in the end," he said. "If they would have seen it and probably they would have had the sense to take it down." Yet, when pressed on whether this could hurt Republicans with Black voters, Trump dismissed concerns, boasting, "I've done great with Black voters... I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to spin the video as a harmless meme, telling PEOPLE, "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." But the clip's use of racist stereotypes comparing Black people to primates has triggered a wave of condemnation from both sides of the aisle.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Republican Congressman Mike Lawler from New York blasted the post on social media, writing, "The President's post is wrong and incredibly offensive — whether intentional or a mistake — and should be deleted immediately with an apology offered." Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont took to X, slamming Trump: "Trump posted a disgustingly racist video depicting the Obamas as apes. Are my Republican colleagues going to continue to bend the knee to a racist?" This bipartisan backlash highlights the deep divisions and ethical lines being drawn in the sand.
As the story goes viral, it's not just about a video—it's a litmus test for political accountability and racial sensitivity in the digital age. With Trump's unwavering stance and mounting public outrage, this controversy is set to dominate headlines and spark fierce debates across the nation.
