...
By Steve Mollman and Peter Aitken
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Republican Senator Tim Scott on Friday responded to President Donald Trump sharing a video on social media showing the Obamas as apes.
The South Carolina lawmaker, and sole Black Republican in the Senate, wrote in a X post: “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.”
Why It Matters
Trump has made extensive use of social media, posting memes and artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content that has stirred up no end of controversy, including his now-famous video in which he drops brown sludge on "No Kings" protesters and AI videos depicting the arrest of former President Barack Obama.
Read More on News
The White House has consistently dismissed outrage or backlash to these posts as fake or performative; experts argue that the posts are intended to distract the public from bigger, more serious issues.
...
What To Know
In the video, using footage from Patriot News Outlet posted to the president's Truth Social account at 11:44 p.m. ET on Thursday night, a narrator discusses what they view as voting irregularities in the 2020 election.
Then, at around 58 seconds into the roughly one-minute video, it cuts to a brief clip of the former president and his wife, Michelle Obama, with their faces superimposed over the bodies of what appear to be apes as the The Lion Sleeps Tonight plays.
Given that the bulk of the video is about elections, it was not clear if Trump watched the whole video and was aware of the content shared at the end. However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to anger over the video in a statement shared with Newsweek, dismissing backlash to it.
"This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King," she said. "Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public."
The clip appears to be taken from a longer video posted by conservative meme creator Xerias in October, which shows several prominent Democrats as animals, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, while Trump is depicted as a lion.
However, only the clip of the Obamas was included in the post on Truth Social, and has stirred up comparisons to historic, racist caricatures that compare Black people to apes or monkeys.
What People Are Saying
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, on X: "Racist. Vile. Abhorrent. This is dangerous and degrades our country—where are Senate Republicans? The President must immediately delete the post and apologize to Barack and Michelle Obama, two great Americans who make Donald Trump look like a small, envious man."
Republicans Against Trump on X in response to Scott's post: "'Praying it was fake'? It’s still on Trump’s Truth Social more than 10 hours later, and the WH spokesperson confirmed it. What are you going to DO besides tweet?"
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, on X: "Disgusting behavior by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now."
New York Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican, on X: "The President’s post is wrong and incredibly offensive — whether intentional or a mistake — and should be deleted immediately with an apology offered."
Update 2/6/26, 11:40 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines