US President Donald Trump deleted a controversial video portraying Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes from his Fact Social account on Friday after a backlash from each Republicans and Democrats, regardless of the White Home earlier defending the publish.
Trump had shared the one-minute video late Thursday, which used manipulated imagery of the previous US president and first girl superimposed on ape our bodies and repeated unsubstantiated claims that Dominion Voting Methods helped steal the 2020 election. The clip was set to the tune The Lion Sleeps Tonight and shortly went viral.
White Home officers later mentioned the video had been posted in error by a staffer and was taken down after widespread condemnation, together with from senior Republicans. The deletion got here hours after press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed criticism as “faux outrage,” whilst civil rights leaders and lawmakers denounced the video as racist.
The video drew condemnation from a number of public figures, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling Trump’s behaviour “disgusting” and urging Republican leaders to talk out. Newsom, who is taken into account a possible candidate within the 2028 presidential race, publicly wrote on X, “Disgusting behaviour by the President. Each single Republican should denounce this. Now.”
Former nationwide safety advisor Ben Rhodes, who has labored intently with Barack Obama, additionally criticised Trump and his supporters. Rhodes mentioned that Trump could be remembered as a “stain” in historical past, utilizing the phrases “stain” and “racist” in his assertion.
Rhodes additional posted on X, “Let it hang-out Trump and his racist followers that future People will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures whereas learning him as a stain on our historical past.”
Again and again, Trump has used synthetic intelligence to provide movies concentrating on Black political figures. Final yr, he posted a video depicting Barack Obama being arrested within the Oval Workplace and proven behind bars wearing an orange jumpsuit.
One other video shared by Trump portrayed Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, who can be Black, with a manipulated look, carrying a faux moustache and sombrero by AI-generated imagery.
Obama, who stays the one Black president in American historical past, supported Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential marketing campaign in opposition to Trump. The newest publish on the Obamas has led critics to resume accusations of racism.
– Ends
Tune In
