An AI-generated video depicting former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes was removed from former President Donald Trump's Truth Social account on February 6, 2026, following bipartisan criticism. The clip, part of a longer meme video portraying Trump as the "King of the Jungle" and Democratic figures as characters from The Lion King, remained online for approximately 12 hours before being taken down.
Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina called the video "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House" in a social media post, urging Trump to remove it. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded immediate Republican condemnation of what he described as "disgusting bigotry." When questioned by reporters, Trump stated he condemned the video but declined to apologize, saying, "I didn't make a mistake."
The White House defended the post as a lighthearted meme, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasizing its fictional nature. However, critics argue the incident reflects ongoing concerns about racial insensitivity in U.S. political discourse. The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of AI-generated content's role in modern campaigning.
