MY1STAMERICA — WASHINGTON, D.C — President Trump ignited fresh controversy on social media after a video he posted on his Truth Social platform appeared to include racially charged imagery showing former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama depicted as monkeys. This content has triggered widespread backlash and intense online debate about the use of artificial intelligence in political messaging.
Trump Portrays Obama’s as Monkeys
Multiple social media users and commentators reported that the clip shared by Trump included AI-generated visuals portraying the Obamas as Apes, a historically racist trope that has drawn condemnation and alarm from critics across the political spectrum.
The emergence of this video follows similar incidents earlier in 2025, when AI-generated posts from Trump’s accounts showed former political rivals and opponents in manipulated media formats, including contentious depictions of public figures in exaggerated or false scenarios — a trend that has alarmed media analysts and civil rights advocates alike.
Outrage and Racial Sensitivity Concerns
Comparisons of Black leaders to monkeys have long been considered an offensive and racist trope, often condemned by civil rights groups and media watchdog organizations. In 2025, a related controversy unfolded when a local Republican Party official in Kentucky shared a video that digitally altered images of Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys — prompting an investigation and formal apologies from party leaders.
Experts say that the resurgence of such imagery — especially when amplified by prominent political figures — risks deepening racial tensions and normalizing harmful stereotypes in political discourse.
A video posted on President Trump’s Truth Social account portrays former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. pic.twitter.com/B6TLnB2Vqm
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 6, 2026
AI’s Role in Political Messaging
The Obama-related video comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of AI-generated media in political communication. Analysts point out that deepfakes and other artificially produced content can blur the line between satire, persuasion, and misinformation, especially when shared by influential leaders with large followings.
Earlier AI posts shared by Trump during government negotiations and campaigns included caricatures of Democratic leaders and exaggerated scenes that critics described as divisive or misleading. The increasing reliance on this kind of imagery has sparked debate about digital ethics in modern political campaigns.
Broader Political Fallout
Reactions to the video vary dramatically across the political landscape. Supporters of Trump’s messaging frame the post as political satire and a critique of his predecessors, while opponents argue that the imagery crosses a line into harmful and racially insensitive content. Many commentators emphasize that the controversy underscores the urgent need for clearer standards governing the use of AI in political media — especially when it involves former presidents and historic political figures.
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