Obama Laments 'Clown Show' in Politics After Trump's Racist Video

In a podcast interview, the former president did not directly address the video but denounced the loss of decorum in public discourse.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a podcast interview, former President Barack Obama indirectly addressed a racist video posted earlier this month by President Trump, which depicted Obama and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, as apes. Obama did not directly comment on the video but denounced the 'clown show' happening on social media and television, saying there is a lack of 'decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office' among some public officials.

Why it matters

The video posted by Trump sparked rare bipartisan outrage, highlighting the increasingly divisive and inflammatory nature of political discourse in the US. Obama's comments reflect concerns about the erosion of civility and respect for democratic institutions, which many believe is damaging the country's social fabric.

The details

In the podcast interview, Obama stressed that the majority of Americans find such offensive content 'deeply troubling,' even though it may get attention. He also spoke about the 'rogue behavior' of federal immigration agents deployed to Minneapolis, which led to tense protests, thousands of arrests, and shootings. Obama applauded the grassroots organizing and community efforts to protect immigrants in the city.

  • The video was posted by Trump earlier this month.
  • Obama's podcast interview was published on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, who served from 2009 to 2017.

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who served from 2017 to 2021.

Michelle Obama

The wife of former President Barack Obama, who served as the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

Brian Tyler Cohen

A YouTuber and podcast host who interviewed Obama for the 'No Lie' podcast.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There's this sort of clown show that's happening in social media and on television, and what is true is that there doesn't seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office.”

— Barack Obama, Former President (No Lie* podcast)

“I think it's important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling. It is true that it gets attention. It's true that it's a distraction. But as I'm traveling around the country, as you're traveling around the country, you meet people, they still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness.”

— Barack Obama, Former President (No Lie* podcast)

What’s next

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it was ending the deployment of federal agents to Minneapolis after the actions led to tense protests, thousands of arrests, and at least three shootings.

The takeaway

Obama's comments reflect growing concerns about the erosion of civility and respect for democratic institutions in American politics, as inflammatory rhetoric and divisive behavior by public officials become more commonplace. His emphasis on the majority of Americans still valuing 'decency, courtesy, and kindness' suggests a desire to move the country towards a more constructive and unifying political discourse.