Trump Sparks Outrage With Racist Video Depicting Obamas as Monkeys
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked widespread condemnation after reposting a video that depicts former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as monkeys. The video, originally shared on far-right American news site Patriot News Outlet, was reposted twice by President Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The Video: Context and Content
The video is reportedly dedicated to the 2020 presidential election and is claimed to contain false allegations of electoral fraud. Near the end of the one-minute-long video, the Obamas are portrayed with their faces superimposed on the bodies of monkeys for approximately one second, accompanied by the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Widespread Condemnation
The video has been met with widespread condemnation, with prominent Democrats and Republicans alike expressing their disgust. Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,
said Senator Tim Scott, the only Black member of the Senate GOP. This sentiment was echoed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called the video racist,
vile,
and abhorrent.
In addition to political figures, international news outlets such as Le Monde, Corriere della Sera, and South China Morning Post have also reported on the incident, highlighting the global attention this story has garnered.
The White House Response
Following the backlash, the White House initially rejected the 'fake outrage' over the video but later blamed an unnamed staff member for the post. The video was subsequently removed from Trump's Truth Social account. The White House told Fox News Digital that a staffer had erroneously
posted the video before it was taken down.
Implications and Reactions
The incident has drawn sharp criticism, with some Republicans joining Democrats in their condemnation of the video. The video's racist depiction of the Obamas has been described as the most racist thing ever seen from this White House
by Senator Scott, who called for its immediate removal.
Meanwhile, reactions from global news outlets have varied. While some outlets have focused on the racist nature of the video, others have highlighted the false allegations of electoral fraud contained within it.
Current Status
The video has since been removed from Trump's Truth Social account. Despite its removal, the incident has sparked a larger conversation about the spread of misinformation and the use of racist imagery in political discourse. While the White House has claimed that the video was posted 'by mistake,' the incident's implications continue to reverberate.