Trump Sparks Firestorm With Racist Obamas Video, Removes Post After Backlash From Allies and Critics

February 7, 2026

President Donald Trump removed a racist video from his social media account on Friday after widespread criticism from political leaders across party lines. The video, posted overnight, superimposed images of Barack and Michelle Obama onto cartoon apes while spreading false election fraud claims, imagery historically used to dehumanize Black people. The White House initially defended the post as an internet meme about "The Lion King" and dismissed concerns as "fake outrage," but Trump quietly deleted it before noon.

Who is affected

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama (directly targeted in the video)
Black Americans and the broader Black community (subjected to racist imagery during Black History Month)
The NAACP and civil rights organizations
Republican lawmakers who condemned the video (Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Mike Lawler)
Democratic leaders including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
Trump supporters who expressed regret or embarrassment
The American public witnessing this from their president

What action is being taken

President Trump removed/deleted the racist video from his social media account Friday before noon
Political leaders are issuing public condemnations and statements
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is calling on Republican leaders to denounce Trump's actions
Attorney Bakari Sellers is challenging Trump supporters to publicly defend the imagery

Why it matters

This incident matters because it involves the President of the United States sharing overtly racist imagery that dehumanizes the nation's first Black president and first lady using stereotypes historically employed to demean Black people. The post demonstrates how racist dog whistles and explicit bigotry can emanate from the highest office in the land, particularly offensive during Black History Month. It forces a national reckoning about acceptable standards of presidential conduct and tests whether political leaders will prioritize partisanship over condemning clear racism. The incident also reflects ongoing concerns about Trump's history of racial provocations, from birther conspiracies to current actions, and whether institutional checks exist to hold leaders accountable for promoting hateful content.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer