The Democratic National Committee (DNC) today strongly condemns President Donald Trump's sharing of a video on Truth Social that depicts former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys, invoking deeply offensive and historically racist imagery.
This act not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also undermines the dignity of the nation's first Black presidential family and exacerbates racial divisions in America.
The video, posted late Thursday, February 5, 2026, promotes baseless claims of election fraud from the 2020 election and includes a brief but unmistakable clip superimposing the Obamas' faces onto dancing primates, accompanied by the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
Such depictions echo centuries-old racist caricatures used to dehumanize people of African descent, a tactic that has no place in modern discourse, let alone from the highest office in the land.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison issued the following statement: "President Trump's decision to amplify this vile content is disgusting and unbecoming of a leader. It is a blatant display of racism that fuels hate and division at a time when our country needs unity.”
“We demand that the President immediately remove the post and apologize to the Obamas and the American people. This is not 'fake outrage' as the White House claims, it's a rightful condemnation of behavior that erodes our democratic values."
The White House has dismissed the backlash, describing the video as an "internet meme" portraying Trump as the "King of the Jungle" and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.
However this defense does little to mitigate the damage caused by sharing content rooted in bigotry, especially given Trump's history of controversial and inflammatory posts.
The DNC stands with civil rights organizations, community leaders, and all Americans who reject racism in any form. We urge social media platforms to enforce their policies against hate speech and hold influential users accountable, regardless of their position.