Rochester Nurse Faces Backlash Over Racist Social Media Posts

Christa Vernile Kendall placed on leave from Rochester General Hospital and removed from union leadership role

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A nurse at Rochester General Hospital, Christa Vernile Kendall, was placed on administrative leave and removed from her union leadership position after she made social media posts containing racist content. Kendall shared a post from President Donald Trump's Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as jungle apes, and commented 'Love it!'. The hospital and nursing union have condemned the racist content, while Kendall has defended the posts as 'comical' and not about race.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing issues of racism and bias in the healthcare industry, where patients of color already face documented disparities in care. The actions of a nurse who endorses racist content raise concerns about potential bias in patient treatment and leadership decisions.

The details

Screenshots show that Kendall shared a post from President Trump's Truth Social account that featured an image portraying the Obamas as apes, and commented 'Love it!'. When criticized, Kendall defended the post as a 'comical meme' and accused her critics of not caring about 'real issues' like immigration and crime. Rochester General Hospital placed Kendall on administrative leave, and the nursing union removed her from a leadership role, condemning the 'use of dehumanizing imagery' and affirming their opposition to racism.

  • On February 6, 2026, the racist video depicting the Obamas as apes was posted on President Trump's Truth Social account.
  • On February 19, 2026, Christa Vernile Kendall was placed on administrative leave from Rochester General Hospital and removed from her union leadership position.

The players

Christa Vernile Kendall

A nurse at Rochester General Hospital who shared a racist social media post and defended it as 'comical'.

Rochester General Hospital

The hospital that placed Kendall on administrative leave while reviewing the situation.

Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals (RUNAP)

The nursing union that condemned the racist content and removed Kendall from her leadership role.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States who was depicted in a racist manner in the social media post.

Michelle Obama

The former First Lady of the United States who was depicted in a racist manner in the social media post.

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What they’re saying

“Language or behavior that is racist, hateful, or discriminatory has no place in our organization or in healthcare.”

— Rochester General Hospital (Rochester General Hospital statement)

“RUNAP affirms our opposition to all forms of racism and discrimination. Our members and our patients are drawn from the full spectrum of the Rochester community, and our union must reflect that. Economic justice is inseparable from racial justice.”

— Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals (RUNAP statement)

“Comparing Black people to monkeys is a historically documented racist trope used for dehumanization. That context does not disappear because someone labels it 'comedy'.”

— Cambria Nwosu, Licensed Practical Nurse and Patient Rights Advocate (Facebook)

What’s next

Rochester General Hospital is reviewing the situation and will determine if further disciplinary action is warranted against Christa Vernile Kendall.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing problem of racism and bias in the healthcare industry, where patients of color already face disparities in care. Healthcare providers must be held to the highest standards of ethics and impartiality, both on and offline, to ensure equitable treatment for all patients.