Unequal Representation: Racial Depictions Fuel Controversy Surrounding Trump's Social Media Post

Sat Feb 07 2026 00:19:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Donald Trump faces backlash for sharing a video that includes derogatory depictions of Barack and Michelle Obama, eliciting strong criticisms from social commentators and advocacy groups for perpetuating racism.

In a recent social media post, President Donald Trump shared a video containing a racist illustration of Barack and Michelle Obama as primates, drawing significant criticism for its racially charged imagery. The backlash highlights ongoing concerns surrounding Trump’s use of incendiary rhetoric and its implications. White House officials attempted to dismiss the outrage as exaggerated, insisting that their social media activities are simply humorous. Critics argue such depictions reinforce systemic racism and normalize derogatory stereotypes against people of color.

In a controversial move, President Donald Trump shared a video on his social media account that includes a racially insulting depiction of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as primates. This video, which casts doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, quickly attracted widespread criticism.

The video, lasting just over a minute, features various scenes from previously circulated conservative media, presenting unfounded allegations about election fraud. Near the end, it shows the Obamas' faces superimposed on the bodies of two primates, igniting a firestorm of backlash for its clear racist undertones.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism, labeling it as fake outrage and challenging commentators to focus on more significant issues. However, critics argue that such portrayals serve to perpetuate harmful stereotypes, reinforcing negative narratives directed towards racial minorities.

This instance is not the first in which Trump has faced scrutiny surrounding race. Throughout his political career, he has been known for making incendiary comments and promoting conspiracies that provoke racial tensions. Critics from organizations such as Republicans Against Trump has condemned the post, stating that it reflects a complete disregard for racial sensitivity and promotes a troubling culture of hatred.

Trump’s history includes disparaging remarks about immigrants and repeated use of racist stereotypes, further complicating the narrative around his presidency and social media behavior. Despite his denials about controversial statements, the recurrence of such depictions raises questions about the underlying attitudes that fuel them.

As this story unfolds, it underscores the ongoing struggle to combat racism and discrimination in political discourse, particularly through social media channels that can amplify harmful narratives.