GOP Rep. Lawler calls Trump's mocking Obama video 'racist'

Lawler says Trump should apologize for the 'insensitive, offensive' post.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler criticized a racist social media post from former President Donald Trump's account that included an animation mocking former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Lawler said the imagery comparing the first Black president to apes was "insensitive, offensive, and racist" and that Trump should apologize, though the White House claimed it was a mistake by a staffer.

Why it matters

The post has drawn widespread condemnation, including from some of Trump's Republican allies like Senator Tim Scott, as an example of the former president's history of making racist remarks. It raises concerns about the divisive rhetoric and racial insensitivity that has become commonplace in US politics.

The details

Trump's post included debunked 2020 election conspiracy theories before briefly showing the Obamas' faces superimposed on the bodies of apes, with the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" playing. The White House initially dismissed the criticism as "fake outrage" before later blaming it on a staffer and deleting the post about 12 hours after it was shared.

  • The post was shared on Trump's social media account on February 8, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president whose social media account shared the racist post.

Mike Lawler

A Republican Congressman from New York who criticized Trump's post as "insensitive, offensive, and racist".

Barack Obama

The former president whose face was depicted in a racist manner in Trump's post.

Michelle Obama

The former first lady whose face was also depicted in a racist manner in Trump's post.

Tim Scott

A Republican Senator from South Carolina and Trump ally who called the post "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House".

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What they’re saying

“I think sometimes in our public discourse it is best to just say, 'I'm sorry.'”

— Mike Lawler, Republican Congressman (ABC News)

“Whether it was intentional or a mistake, the fact is it's wrong. And we should all just be able to acknowledge that and move forward.”

— Mike Lawler, Republican Congressman (ABC News)

“I think Tim Scott obviously was one of the first people to speak out. I don't think he was engaged in fake outrage.”

— Mike Lawler, Republican Congressman (ABC News)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing racial divisions and inflammatory rhetoric that continue to plague US politics, even among members of the same party. It underscores the need for greater civility, empathy and a commitment to addressing systemic racism in order to move the country forward in a constructive manner.