President Trump refused to apologize for a controversial social media post that sparked a media firestorm, instead blaming a staffer while maintaining he saw no error on his part—exposing once again how the establishment weaponizes outrage to distract from legitimate concerns about election integrity.
Story Snapshot
- Trump’s Truth Social account posted a video featuring Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys, staying online for 12 hours before deletion
- President defended the post aboard Air Force One, claiming he only viewed the election fraud portion and refused to apologize or confirm disciplinary action
- White House initially defended the content as a “Lion King reference” before backtracking to call it a staffer error
- Bipartisan lawmakers condemned the post while Trump maintained the controversy was manufactured outrage from political opponents
The Controversy Unfolds on Truth Social
On February 5, 2026, a 62-second video appeared on President Trump’s Truth Social account depicting the Obamas as primates in a “Lion King” themed meme. The video portrayed Trump as the “King of the Jungle” with Democrats shown as various animals, while also highlighting claims about 2020 election fraud. The post remained visible for 12 hours, accumulating thousands of likes from supporters before its removal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed criticism as “fake outrage” over what she called a harmless Lion King reference, demonstrating the administration’s initial stance that the media was manufacturing controversy.
This is the full trump obama monkey video pic.twitter.com/cmBg50CiA0 #trump
— MR PLANET glitch (@PlanetGlitch87) February 7, 2026
Trump’s Air Force One Defense
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on February 6, President Trump defended his position without offering an apology. Trump explained he only watched the beginning portion of the video focusing on voter fraud claims and blamed an unnamed staffer for the posting. When pressed about potential disciplinary action, the President declined to confirm whether anyone was fired or reprimanded. This response aligns with Trump’s broader pattern of refusing to bow to what his supporters view as politically motivated attacks. The President’s stance resonated with his base, who see such controversies as manufactured distractions from substantive issues like election integrity and government accountability.
GOP Lawmakers Distance Themselves
The incident created an unusual rift within Republican ranks, with several prominent GOP lawmakers publicly condemning the post. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, a Black Republican and Trump ally, called it “the most racist” content he had seen, while Representatives Mike Lawler, Mike Turner, and John Curtis also voiced criticism. Their responses highlight the delicate balance Republicans face between maintaining party unity and addressing content that could alienate moderate voters. The White House eventually issued an anonymous statement calling the post “erroneous” and attributing it to staff error, though no specific individual was identified or disciplined according to Trump’s Air Force One remarks.
🚨 BREAKING: Monkey community OUTRAGED over Trump meme depicting them as Obamas pic.twitter.com/LbSXBR6e2t
— The Conservative Alternative (@OldeWorldOrder) February 7, 2026
Pattern of Unvetted Social Media Posts
This incident fits within a broader context of Trump’s unfiltered Truth Social presence, which lacks the formal review processes typical of presidential communications. The President has previously joked about adviser Dan Scavino’s unchecked posting authority, and similar controversies erupted over a May 2024 repost about Biden “body doubles” and September 2025 AI-generated content targeting Democrats. Critics argue this demonstrates reckless governance, but supporters counter that Trump’s direct communication style bypasses dishonest media filters to speak truth directly to Americans. The video itself had circulated in MAGA social media circles for months, representing grassroots conservative humor rather than official White House messaging, according to defenders who frame the controversy as another establishment attempt to police conservative speech online.
Sources:
Trump won’t apologize for sharing video depicting Obamas as primates – Politico
Trump shares racist video depicting the Obamas as monkeys – Le Monde