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Trump’s Obamas Video Fallout

Bipartisan backlash followed after Donald Trump shared and then removed a Truth Social video using racist imagery targeting the Obamas.

Politics

2/6/26

12:00 AM

Brief

US-National

UPDATE — Feb 6, 2026: Donald Trump shared a Truth Social video that used a racist trope depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. After bipartisan backlash, the post was removed; Trump refused to apologize.

What Happened

A Truth Social post shared by Donald Trump included a video using racist imagery depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes; the post was removed after widespread backlash.

What We Know

The post appeared Feb. 5 and was removed about 12 hours later; it prompted bipartisan criticism; Trump said he did not see the final segment before it was posted and declined to apologize.

What We Do NOT know

Who produced and approved the final cut; what internal review controls exist for posting; how widely the clip spread before removal; whether any policy changes will follow.

Why It Matters

The video relied on a historically documented racist trope. Its publication, even briefly, drew condemnation across parties and from civil-rights groups, highlighting the reputational and governance risks of fast, meme-driven posting by political figures.

Coverage Snapshot

AP and Reuters emphasized the racist trope, the deletion timeline, and the rare bipartisan condemnation, focusing on the administration’s shifting explanation after the post was removed.

Bias Summary

Coverage largely framed the post through its historical racist trope and political backlash; emphasis differed between outlets on the White House response versus the broader implications for political communication.

Blindspot Check

Public reporting has not established the full editing chain, who performed final review, or the post’s total reach prior to deletion.

Media Credits

Truth Social screenshot (via AP)