President Donald Trump sparked a rare wave of criticism from members of his own party after sharing a video on social media that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in a manner widely regarded as racist, showing them as primates. The post, which also echoed debunked conspiracy theories related to the 2020 election, was met with swift denunciations from Republican senators and representatives alongside Democratic lawmakers in Congress.
Historically, Republican legislators have been cautious about publicly opposing Trump, often choosing private channels to voice disagreements due to concerns about potential retaliation. This episode marked a notable departure, with a significant number of GOP lawmakers joining Democrats in condemning the shared content and calling for its immediate removal.
Responses from Republican Leaders
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate and chair of the Senate GOP campaign committee, expressed deep disapproval of the video. He implored the president to take down the post, describing it as "the most racist thing" he had seen from the White House and expressing hope that the image was fabricated.
Other Senate Republicans voiced similar concerns. Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska acknowledged that even if the controversial image were intended as a "Lion King" meme, the racial connotations were unmistakable and unacceptable. He emphasized that the White House should behave responsibly by removing the post and issuing an apology.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine labeled the image as "appalling," while Mississippi's senior Senator Roger Wicker denounced it as "totally unacceptable," urging the president to retract the post and apologize. Utah Senator John Curtis described the post as "blatantly racist and inexcusable," criticizing both the decision to publish and the prolonged presence of the video online.
Within the House of Representatives, New York's Mike Lawler called the post "wrong and incredibly offensive," stressing that it required removal and a formal apology regardless of intent. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon, known for his criticism of Trump, highlighted inconsistencies in the White House's explanations about the video's origins and removal.
Reactions Following Removal of the Post
After the video was taken down, additional Republican voices expressed approval of the removal. Alabama Senator Katie Britt affirmed that the content was rightfully removed and criticized the initial decision to share the video, emphasizing that such material does not represent American values.
Michigan Representative and gubernatorial candidate John James, one of a few Black Republicans in the House, expressed shock and dismay at the post but defended Trump's personal character, noting his experience campaigning for the former president in Black communities. James welcomed the removal of the "trash," reiterating that he did not believe the president to be racist.
Conversely, some close to Trump, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, urged supporters to spotlight Republicans who criticized the president for alleged racism, promising to compile a list of dissenting GOP senators ahead of upcoming party meetings. Loomer has been noted for exerting influence on administration policy and leveraging threats against GOP opponents.
White House Explanation and President Trump’s Statements
Trump has a history of targeting the Obamas in his rhetoric, including endorsing the disproven "birther" conspiracy theory before entering politics. Following the post, White House officials initially claimed the video, which appeared to be artificially generated, symbolized Trump as "King of the Jungle" with other Democrats depicted as characters from "The Lion King." However, experts noted that the Disney film does not include ape-like figures and is set in a savanna, not a jungle.
Later, White House spokespeople attributed the posting of the video to staff error. Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said he had liked the beginning of the video and shared it without fully reviewing the end. When asked whether he condemns the racist aspects of the clip, Trump responded affirmatively.
Democratic Support for the Obamas and Public Backlash
Supporters of the Obamas took to social media platforms not only to denounce the former president's shared video but also to uplift the former first couple. Pete Souza, who served as Obama’s chief White House photographer, responded by posting a collection of images celebrating Barack and Michelle Obama, refraining from sharing the original video to avoid amplifying the offensive material.
Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts highlighted the former first family’s "brilliance, elegance, and beauty," while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly expressed solidarity, reassuring Americans, particularly younger generations, that most of the country stands with the Obamas despite disparagement originating from the Oval Office.