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Trump Shares Racist Meme Depicting Obamas as Primates
The former president's post on his social media platform sparks outrage and calls for accountability.
Published on Feb. 9, 2026
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A racist meme depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in the jungle has been shared by former President Donald Trump on his social media platform. The offensive imagery, which taps into a long history of dehumanizing Black people, has been widely condemned as a new low in Trump's pattern of racist behavior.
Why it matters
When the most powerful political figure in the country promotes content that dehumanizes minorities, it sends a dangerous message that racism and bigotry are acceptable. This undermines democratic norms, emboldens hate groups, and makes it harder for marginalized communities to feel safe and equal in society.
The details
The meme, which originated from a pro-Trump account on the social media platform X, superimposes the Obamas' faces onto the bodies of primates in a jungle setting, set to the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Trump reposted the video to his own account, exposing it to millions of his followers. Experts say this type of imagery taps into a long history of racist tropes used to justify slavery, segregation, and other forms of oppression against Black Americans.
- On February 8, 2026, the racist meme was first posted by a pro-Trump account on X.
- On February 9, 2026, former President Trump reposted the meme on his social media platform.
The players
Donald Trump
The former president of the United States who shared the racist meme on his social media platform.
Barack Obama
The former president of the United States whose face was superimposed onto a primate in the racist meme.
Michelle Obama
The former first lady of the United States whose face was superimposed onto a primate in the racist meme.
What they’re saying
“Disgusting behavior by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now.”
— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (Twitter)
“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
— Karoline Leavitt, Trump Spokesperson (Press Conference)
What’s next
The White House and Republican leaders have been called upon to condemn Trump's actions, with some calling for further accountability measures such as impeachment proceedings or invoking the 25th Amendment.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the continued threat of racism and bigotry in American politics, even at the highest levels of government. It underscores the need for political leaders to uphold democratic values and reject the normalization of dehumanizing rhetoric and imagery targeting marginalized communities.
