Montgomery County Officials Condemn Trump Video Depicting Obama Family as Apes

The joint statement calls the video an "unmistakable act of racism" meant to "provoke, divide, and degrade."

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Montgomery County officials issued a joint statement condemning a video shared by the Trump administration that portrayed former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The video, which was part of a previously circulated Lion King meme, depicted Democratic leaders as animals, with Trump as the 'King of the Jungle.' The statement calls the video an "unmistakable act of racism" that is "meant to provoke, divide, and degrade."

Why it matters

The video was shared during Black History Month, just days after a Trump proclamation cited "the contributions of black Americans to our national greatness" and "the American principles of liberty, justice, and equality." The statement by Montgomery County officials highlights the ongoing tensions around racism and political divisiveness in the country.

The details

The clip appeared at the end of a 62-second video shared by Trump's account which contains claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. According to Trump, he sent the video to a staffer to review for posting and claimed he didn't see the entire video before it was shared. The White House press secretary initially defended the video as an "internet meme" depicting Trump as the 'King of the Jungle' and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.

  • The video was shared on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
  • It was removed from Trump's social media platform on Friday afternoon.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who shared the video on his social media account.

Barack Obama

The former president who was depicted as an ape in the video.

Michelle Obama

The former first lady who was also depicted as an ape in the video.

Madeleine Dean

A Congresswoman from Glenside, Pennsylvania who signed the joint statement condemning the video.

Maria Collett

A State Senator from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania who signed the joint statement.

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What they’re saying

“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, White House Press Secretary (CBS News)

“Of course I do.”

— Donald Trump (Associated Press)

What’s next

The joint statement calls for accountability and action to address the racism and divisiveness exemplified by the video.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions around racism and political polarization in the country, even at the highest levels of government. It underscores the need for greater understanding, empathy, and a commitment to the principles of equality and justice for all.