In a defiant stance on Saturday, February 7, 2026, US President Donald Trump addressed reporters aboard Air Force One, refusing to apologize for a viral AI-generated video that depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
The video, which remained on Trump’s Truth Social account for roughly 12 hours before being deleted, has sparked a firestorm of bipartisan condemnation during the first week of Black History Month.
The Controversy: “King of the Jungle” Meme
The one-minute video promoted debunked conspiracy theories about 2020 voting machine fraud before transitioning into a scene featuring the Obamas’ faces superimposed on the bodies of primates dancing to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
- Trump’s Defense: Trump claimed he only watched the “beginning” of the clip, which focused on election claims, and passed it to staff without seeing the final segment.
- “I Didn’t Make a Mistake”: Rejecting calls for an apology, Trump told reporters, “I look at thousands of things… I liked the beginning. I saw it and just passed it on.”
- The “Staffer” Error: While Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed the outcry as “fake outrage,” the White House later officially stated a staff member had “erroneously” posted the clip.
Bipartisan Backlash
The video drew sharp rebukes from both sides of the aisle, including some of Trump’s most loyal allies:
- Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC): The only Black Republican in the Senate called it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
- Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS): Described the post as “totally unacceptable” and called for a formal apology.
- Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): Condemned the President as a “vile, unhinged bottom feeder,” while the NAACP described the video as “blatantly racist and despicable.”
Context: AI Imagery in the 2026 Administration
The incident highlights the Trump administration’s frequent use of AI-generated content to mock political rivals. Other figures featured as animals in the full version of the meme include:
- Joe Biden: Depicted as a baboon.
- Kamala Harris: Depicted as a tortoise.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Depicted as a donkey.