Few figures ignite as much passion and division as Donald Trump. On February 5, 2026, a post on his Truth Social account sparked widespread outrage, accusations of racism, and a heated debate about intent versus error. The video in question, which was quickly deleted after about 12 hours, featured content discussing unsubstantiated claims of 2020 election fraud before abruptly ending with a brief, two-second clip superimposing the faces of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama onto cartoonish ape or monkey bodies. This imagery tapped into a long, ugly history of racist tropes dehumanising Black people by comparing them to primates — a tactic rooted in slavery, Jim Crow segregation, and pseudoscientific eugenics. The post's removal came amid bipartisan backlash, with the White House initially dismissing critics as exhibiting "fake outrage" before blaming it on a "staffer" who allegedly shared it erroneously. Yet, Trump himself later doubled down, refusing to apologise and insisting, "I didn't make a mistake." This incident, while seemingly minor in the grand scheme of Trump's presidency, encapsulates broader themes of media framing, political tribalism, and the weaponisation of social media.
The Timeline: What Was Posted and Why the Uproar?The video appeared on Trump's Truth Social account late on February 5, 2026, around midnight. According to multiple accounts, the main body of the clip, lasting about 58 seconds, focused on conspiracy theories surrounding voting machine fraud in the 2020 election, a recurring theme for Trump and his MAGA supporters. Investigations into such claims, like those in Fulton County, Georgia, have been ongoing but largely debunked by courts and experts. At the end, however, the footage shifted to the controversial segment: the Obamas' heads grafted onto simian figures in a cartoonish, jungle-like setting, evoking the "Lion King" aesthetic but with deeply offensive undertones.
This wasn't an isolated meme; it appears to stem from a broader, doctored video circulating online where Democratic politicians are portrayed as various animals bowing to Trump as a "King of the Jungle" lion, accompanied by symbols like Pepe the Frog. The Obamas' depiction as apes stood out as particularly inflammatory, given the historical context. As historians note, such imagery has been used for centuries to justify oppression, from colonial-era caricatures to modern incidents like the 2008 New York Post cartoon depicting Obama as a chimpanzee. Obama himself faced similar tropes during his presidency, appearing on T-shirts and merchandise as a monkey.
By the morning of February 6, the post had gone viral, amplified by screenshots and clips isolating the ape segment. Outrage poured in from across the spectrum: Democrats labelled it "indefensible" and "overt racism," while even Republicans like Senator Tim Scott called it "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House" and urged its removal. Civil rights leaders and media outlets condemned it as a throwback to disqualifying rhetoric. The White House deleted the post around noon on February 6, attributing it to a staff error, but Trump later rejected calls to fire anyone or express regret, stating flatly, "No."
On X, reactions were polarized. Some users dismissed it as overblown, with one arguing, "Who f***ing cares lmfao, we got bigger issues in this world than Trump posting an Obama monkey video." Others saw it as intentional, with Piers Morgan hoping Trump "didn't realise" the content but urging deletion. Defenders like Pastor Mark Burns claimed it was a staffer's mistake, questioning media double standards. One X user shared the full video, claiming it was a "screen record with auto play," insulating the public from "pesky truth."
The Defense: An Accidental Glitch or Poor Vetting?Pro-Trump voices, including the American Thinker article linked below, frame this as a "classic amateur mistake." The argument goes: The video was a third-party screen recording of election fraud content, but the recorder failed to trim the end, allowing an unrelated autoplay clip to sneak in. Trump, they say, likely reposted without watching the full minute, focusing on the fraud narrative. This explanation posits the ape clip as unintended collateral from poor editing, not malice. Supporters point to similar past incidents, like a Kentucky Republican group's accidental sharing of a comparable meme in October 2025, which led to an apology.
This view gains traction on X, where users argue the media selectively edits to create outrage, ignoring the 58 seconds of "serious" content. Trump's refusal to apologize aligns with his "unfiltered" style, as one X post celebrated: "TRUMP UNFILTERED: He tells the fake news to SCR*W OFF." Even some critics, like an X user, conceded, "I'm actually willing to believe... trump posted the Obama / monkey s**t if... the Obama part was originally included at the end."
Yet, this defence has holes. Why post at midnight without vetting? And if it was an error, why not fully own it with an apology, especially given the imagery's sensitivity? Trump's history — such as birtherism questioning Obama's citizenship — fuels scepticism that this was purely accidental.
The Accusations: A Pattern of Racism or Selective Outrage?Critics see this as no accident but a deliberate nod to racist elements in Trump's base. The video's origins trace to an X user (@xerias_x) who created AI-generated memes, including one of Trump "raining down excrement" on protesters. By sharing it, Trump amplified a trope that's "long recognised as among the most explicit racist" in U.S. history. Outlets like The Atlantic argue it "was exactly what it looked like," normalising hate. On X, users like one calling it "beyond disgusting" echoed calls for accountability, with some predicting electoral fallout, like costing Republicans the House midterms. No, it will be forgotten in the next news cycle.
This fits a pattern: Trump's administration has shared memes and AI imagery before, often without apology. But defenders counter with "whataboutism," noting Left-leaning edits of Trump (e.g., as Hitler or in diapers) go unpunished. The media's role is scrutinised too — why not embed the full video for context? This suggests a "narrative factory" where stories are shaped to fit agendas.
If Trump Wanted to Troll: Better Options?
If Trump intended this as a troll, he could have done better, like linking to hypothetical FBI arrests of Obama. Indeed, Trump's style thrives on provocation — think "lock her up" chants or birther conspiracies. A more pointed jab might reference ongoingclaims of Obama-era spying or "Obamagate." But the monkey trope risks alienating moderates and minorities, potentially backfiring electorally, as former chief of staff Mick Mulvaney warned. Trolling via FBI scenarios could play to his base's "deep state" fears without overt racism, maintaining plausible deniability.
Why This Matters: Truth in a Post-Truth EraTruth-seeking here reveals nuance: The video likely was a screen-recorded clip with an autoplay error, but sharing it unvetted shows recklessness at best. Mainstream media amplified the racism angle, often without full context, while conservative outlets downplayed it as a non-issue. In a non-partisan lens, this highlights how social media turns slips into scandals, eroding trust. It also underscores America's unresolved racial tensions — imagery matters, intent or not. As one adage in the American Thinker piece notes, "a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth gets its pants on." Ultimately, whether accident or intent, the episode reminds us: In politics, perception often trumps reality. Also, in politics, be careful and double check.