Chicago Archbishop Calls for Trump to Apologize Over 'Racist' Social Media Post

Blase Cupich says depicting people as animals is a 'common trope' used to demean immigrant groups.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, has called on President Donald Trump to apologize for sharing what he described as a 'racist' video on social media depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as apes. Trump shared and then deleted the video last week, but said he would not apologize.

Why it matters

Cupich's statement highlights the ongoing tensions between religious leaders and the Trump administration, as well as the president's history of making controversial and racially-charged comments on social media.

The details

In his statement, Cupich said that portraying human beings as animals is 'not new' and has been used to demean immigrant groups who have come to the U.S. over the years. He called for an 'unequivocal apology' from Trump, whether or not the president intentionally shared the video.

  • Trump shared and then deleted the video last week.

The players

Blase Cupich

The archbishop of Chicago who has led the Archdiocese of Chicago for over a decade.

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States.

Michelle Obama

The wife of former President Barack Obama.

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What they’re saying

“If the President intentionally approved the message containing viciously racist images, he should admit it. If he did not know of it originally, he should explain why he let his staff describe the public outcry over their transmission as fake outrage.”

— Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (Archdiocese of Chicago)

“Either way he should apologize. Our shock is real. So is our outrage. Nothing less than an unequivocal apology – to the nation and to the persons demeaned – is acceptable. And it must come immediately.”

— Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (Archdiocese of Chicago)

“It was a common way in past centuries for politicians and others to demean immigrant groups as each arrived, the Chinese, Irish, Italians, Slavs, Jews, Latinos and so on. Cartoons, 'news' articles, even theatrical productions carried the message that these 'others' were worthy of ridicule.”

— Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (Archdiocese of Chicago)

What’s next

The White House has not yet responded to Cupich's call for an apology from President Trump.

The takeaway

Cupich's statement underscores the ongoing tensions between religious leaders and the Trump administration, as well as the president's history of making controversial and racially-charged comments on social media. The incident highlights the divisive nature of political discourse in the U.S. and the need for greater understanding and respect across partisan lines.