Calif. Legislature Passes Two Resolutions Condemning Racist White House Social Media Post

February 18, 2026

The California Legislature passed two resolutions condemning President Trump's social media post that depicted the Obamas as apes, with near-unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers. Assembly House Resolution 84 and Senate Resolution 77, authored by members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, received 62-0 and 28-0 votes respectively on February 9th. Legislators emphasized that the racist imagery was particularly offensive since it occurred during Black History Month's centennial observance, and the resolutions call for an official apology to the Obamas.

Who is affected

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama (directly targeted by the post)
Black Americans, particularly Black children
Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus
Various legislative caucuses including LGBTQ, Latino, AAPI, Jewish, Native American, and Women's caucuses
California legislators across both chambers

What action is being taken

The California State Assembly and Senate are passing resolutions condemning the post
The resolutions are calling for an official and unequivocal apology to the Obamas
Governor Newsom is publicly condemning the post as disgraceful, racist, and abhorrent
Legislators are making public statements on the record opposing the imagery

Why it matters

This matters because it represents racist and dehumanizing imagery directed at a former president and first lady by the current president during Black History Month's centennial observance. The post perpetuates centuries of racist pain and harmful stereotypes that dehumanize Black Americans. The bipartisan condemnation demonstrates that such racism has no place in democracy or presidential conduct, and the incident undermines California's efforts to acknowledge past wrongs and promote racial justice.

What's next

The resolutions call for an official and unequivocal apology to the Obamas from President Trump. However, the article notes that Trump has stated he will not apologize because he "didn't make a mistake," and the staffer responsible has yet to be identified, making the likelihood of these next steps uncertain.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint