Former US President Barack Obama has offered a pointed response to a racist video shared on social media by Donald Trump, saying that the sense of shame and respect that once restrained political leaders has eroded in modern American public life.
Obama’s remarks came during an interview with liberal podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen, days after a video circulated on Trump’s Truth Social account depicting Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes—an image long associated with racist caricatures of Black people.
Although Obama did not mention Trump by name, his comments were widely interpreted as a direct response to the controversy, which has drawn condemnation across the US political spectrum.
Video triggers outrage across party lines
The offensive clip appeared at the end of a longer video posted on Truth Social, which itself promoted unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The final segment, set to the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, showed altered images of Barack and Michelle Obama depicted as apes.
The video prompted swift backlash from Democrats and Republicans alike. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, described it as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” underscoring the unusually broad condemnation.
Civil rights advocates and historians noted that such imagery echoes dehumanising tropes used for centuries to justify discrimination and violence against Black Americans.
White House response draws further criticism
The White House initially dismissed the backlash, with officials describing it as “fake outrage.” The post was later removed, and aides said it had been shared by a staff member rather than the president himself.
Trump later told reporters that he had not seen the portion of the video depicting the Obamas. Asked whether he would apologise, he responded: “I didn’t make a mistake,” declining to express regret.
The clip has been traced to a post originally shared on X by Xerias, a conservative meme creator known for provocative political content.
Obama: ‘Decorum has been lost’
During the 47-minute podcast episode, Cohen asked Obama to reflect on what he described as the sharp decline in civility in US political discourse. Referencing the video, Cohen said that only days earlier Trump had shared an image portraying Obama as an ape.
Obama responded by emphasising that the behaviour does not reflect the values of most Americans.
“It’s important to recognise that the majority of the American people find this behaviour deeply troubling,” Obama said. “It is true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction.”
He added that in his travels across the country, he continues to encounter Americans who value “decency, courtesy and kindness,” contrasting them with what he called a “clown show” dominating parts of social media and television.
“There doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office,” Obama said. “That’s been lost.”
Broader concerns about political culture
The controversy has reignited debate over the tone of US politics, particularly as the country approaches another high-stakes election cycle. Analysts note that racially charged rhetoric and imagery have increasingly migrated from the fringes of online discourse into mainstream political communication.
During the podcast, Obama also addressed other issues, including immigration enforcement, electoral redistricting and civic engagement. He praised peaceful protests opposing the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while cautioning against political tactics that rely on outrage rather than policy solutions.
The former president also spoke briefly about his presidential library, which is scheduled to open in Chicago next year, describing it as a space intended to encourage civic participation and dialogue.
Political implications
While the White House has attempted to move past the incident, the episode has added to concerns among both parties about the erosion of norms that once governed political conduct.
For Democrats, the video is cited as evidence of escalating racial hostility in national politics. For some Republicans, particularly moderates, the backlash reflects fears that such incidents alienate voters and damage the credibility of US leadership at home and abroad.
Obama’s response, measured but firm, reinforces a pattern he has followed since leaving office: addressing controversies indirectly while appealing to broader democratic values rather than engaging in personal confrontation.