Obama addresses racist video shared by Trump depicting him as an ape

February 14, 2026

Former President Barack Obama responded to a racist video posted on Donald Trump's Truth Social account that depicted him and Michelle Obama as apes, though he avoided mentioning Trump by name. Speaking on a liberal podcast, Obama lamented the loss of shame, decorum, and respect for public office that once characterized political discourse, while noting that most Americans still find such behavior troubling. The offensive video, initially defended by the White House as "fake outrage" before being blamed on a staff member and deleted, drew bipartisan criticism including from prominent Republicans.

Who is affected

Barack and Michelle Obama (depicted in the racist video)
The American public exposed to divisive political discourse
Black Americans (targeted by racist imagery)
Politicians from both parties who condemned the post
Senator Tim Scott and other Republican officials who criticized the video
People detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations referenced in the discussion

What action is being taken

The White House initially defended the video before later deleting it
Obama is traveling around the US meeting with people
Protesters are peacefully organizing against immigration operations
Obama is conducting podcast interviews to discuss political issues

Why it matters

This incident highlights the deterioration of standards and civility in American political discourse, particularly concerning racial rhetoric at the highest levels of government. The use of historically racist imagery depicting the first Black president demonstrates how normalized inflammatory and offensive content has become in political communication. The bipartisan condemnation suggests there remain some boundaries that concern Americans across the political spectrum, even as public officials increasingly abandon traditional norms of respect and decorum for public office.

What's next

Obama's presidential library is due to open in Chicago next year

Read full article from source: BBC