Donald Trump posts racist AI video of Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys

Former President Donald Trump sparked widespread condemnation after sharing a racist AI-generated video on his social media platform that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys. The video, which combined conspiracy-laden content with offensive imagery, portrayed the former president and first lady in a dehumanizing and derogatory manner, reinforcing harmful racial stereotypes. The footage was an internet meme that also cast Trump as “King of the Jungle” with Democrats likened to characters from the “Lion King,” according to statements from White House officials. Despite initial defense by some within his circle, the post provoked fierce backlash including from Republican senators, prompting its removal from Trump’s Truth Social account. White House representatives distanced the president from the video’s posting, attributing it to an error by a staffer. This incident adds to a pattern of racially charged controversies surrounding Trump, who previously made derogatory remarks about majority-Black countries during his presidency. The use of AI-generated content to propagate such divisive and racist material illustrates growing concerns about the weaponization of emerging technologies for political attacks and misinformation. The episode intensifies debates about social media platforms’ responsibility and the ethical implications of AI in political discourse, emphasizing the need for vigilant moderation to prevent the amplification of hate speech and damaging stereotypes in digital media.