U.S. President Donald Trump deleted a social media post that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle following widespread backlash from both Republicans and Democrats.
The post, shared Thursday night, sparked immediate criticism across the political spectrum. Civil rights leaders, lawmakers, and members of the public condemned the content as racist and inappropriate, particularly given that Barack Obama was the nation’s first Black president. Several veteran Republican senators joined Democrats in calling for the video to be removed, describing it as offensive and damaging.
By Friday, the post had been deleted. The White House said the video had been shared in error by a staff member and was taken down once the issue was identified. The deletion marked a rare instance in which the administration acknowledged a mistake involving the president’s social media activity.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had dismissed criticism surrounding the post as “fake outrage.” However, as condemnation continued to grow — including from within the Republican Party — the administration moved to remove the content.
The incident has reignited debate over political rhetoric, race, and the standards expected of public officials, especially in an era where social media plays a central role in political communication.
