Don Lemon slams White House press secretary over Obama 'ape' video

Lemon calls Karoline Leavitt's dismissal of outrage over the AI-generated clip as a 'joke' offensive and unfit for her role.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Former CNN anchor Don Lemon strongly criticized White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt for her comments dismissing the outrage over a controversial AI-generated video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Lemon called the video 'plain old racism' and said there was 'nothing funny' about it, telling Leavitt to 'f**k off' for describing it as a 'joke'.

Why it matters

Lemon's reaction highlights growing concerns about the misuse of AI technology to create misleading and offensive content, especially when it comes to racial stereotypes. His comments also underscore the importance of responsible leadership and the need for public officials to exercise better judgment when addressing sensitive issues.

The details

The video in question was shared on former President Trump's Truth Social platform late Thursday night. It featured an AI-generated depiction of Trump as the 'King of the Jungle' and Democrats, including the Obamas, as characters from 'The Lion King'. After facing backlash, the White House announced the post had been removed, with a staffer being blamed for the erroneous upload.

  • The video was shared on Trump's Truth Social platform late Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 11:44 pm.
  • The White House announced the post had been removed around noon on Friday, February 6, 2026.
  • Later on Friday afternoon, a White House official said a 'staffer erroneously made the post'.

The players

Don Lemon

An independent journalist and former CNN anchor who strongly criticized the White House press secretary's comments about the controversial video.

Karoline Leavitt

The current White House press secretary who described the AI-generated video depicting the Obamas as apes as a 'meme and joke'.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States who was depicted in the AI-generated video.

Michelle Obama

The former First Lady of the United States who was also depicted in the AI-generated video.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who was featured in the AI-generated video as the 'King of the Jungle'.

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What they’re saying

“That is just plain old racism. Karoline Leavitt had the nerve to say this is just a joke. Are you out of your fucking mind Karoline Leavitt? No, no, no. There is nothing funny about depicting anybody as apes or monkeys. It is revolting. So Karoline Leavitt, fuck off.”

— Don Lemon, Independent Journalist (Twitter)

What’s next

The White House has not indicated any further action or response regarding the controversial video or Leavitt's comments.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for public officials to exercise greater sensitivity and judgment when addressing issues of race and the responsible use of emerging technologies like AI. Dismissing offensive content as a 'joke' can further erode public trust and undermine the credibility of government leaders.