Trump Refuses to Apologize for Sharing Racist Video of Obamas as Apes

The president claimed he didn't see the racist portion of the video he posted on Truth Social.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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President Donald Trump refused to apologize for sharing a video on his Truth Social platform that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Trump claimed he only saw the beginning of the video, which discussed unsubstantiated voter fraud claims, and did not notice the racist portion that went viral and drew widespread condemnation.

Why it matters

This incident highlights Trump's continued pattern of sharing controversial and racially insensitive content, even as a former president. It also raises questions about the vetting process for content on his social media platform and the potential for such posts to further divide the country along partisan and racial lines.

The details

The brief portion of the video with the Obamas appears to have been created using artificial intelligence, depicting their faces on the bodies of apes in a jungle setting. The video was posted on Trump's Truth Social account in the early hours of February 6th and was up for about 12 hours before being removed. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially defended the post, calling it an 'internet meme video,' before the White House later distanced itself from the video.

  • On February 6, 2026, Trump refused to apologize for sharing the video while aboard Air Force One on his way to Palm Beach County, Florida.
  • The video was posted on Trump's Truth Social account in the late hours of February 5th and early hours of February 6th, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who shared the controversial video on his Truth Social platform.

Barack Obama

The former president whose face was depicted as an ape in the video shared by Trump.

Michelle Obama

The former first lady whose face was depicted as an ape in the video shared by Trump.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who initially defended the video as an 'internet meme' before the White House later distanced itself from the post.

Hakeem Jeffries

The House Minority Leader who slammed Trump as a 'racist' and an 'unhinged bottom feeder' in response to the video.

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What they’re saying

“I just looked at the first part... I didn't see the whole thing. I guess probably nobody reviewed the end of it.”

— Donald Trump, President (palmbeachpost.com)

“This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader (palmbeachpost.com)

“I've been great for Black voters.”

— Donald Trump, President (palmbeachpost.com)

What’s next

The White House has not indicated whether Trump will face any consequences for sharing the racist video, and it remains to be seen if Republican lawmakers will continue to criticize the former president's actions.

The takeaway

This incident underscores Trump's continued willingness to engage in divisive and racially charged rhetoric, even after leaving office. It also highlights the challenges of content moderation on social media platforms and the potential for such posts to further polarize the political landscape.