'Clown Show': Barack Obama Reacts To Donald Trump's AI Video Showing Him As An Ape

Last Updated:February 15, 2026, 14:48 IST

The video, later deleted, included a clip depicting Obama and his wife Michelle Obama as apes and sparked condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.

Former US president Barack Obama on Sunday criticised a racially offensive AI-generated video shared on US President Donald Trump’s social media account, saying the sense of “shame" and “decorum" that once guided public office has largely been lost.

The video, later deleted, included a clip depicting Obama and his wife Michelle Obama as apes and sparked condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.

The clip appeared at the end of a longer video posted on Trump’s Truth Social account that repeated unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Obama made the remarks during a podcast interview with liberal commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, who asked him about the tone of political discourse in the United States and cited the controversial post as an example.

Without naming Trump, Obama said most Americans find such behaviour deeply troubling.

“It is true that it gets attention. It is true that it is a distraction," he said, adding that while travelling across the country he continues to meet people who believe in “decency, courtesy and kindness".

“There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television," Obama said, lamenting the apparent absence of restraint among those who once felt a responsibility to maintain dignity and respect for public office.

The video triggered sharp political backlash. Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, described it as the most racist act he had seen from the White House.

Critics said the imagery echoed racist caricatures historically used against Black people.

The White House initially dismissed criticism as “fake outrage" before later attributing the post to a staff member and removing it.

Trump later told reporters he had not seen the portion of the video showing the Obamas and said he did not intend to apologise.

The 47-minute podcast episode also saw Obama comment on a range of other issues, including immigration protests, electoral redistricting and his presidential library, which is scheduled to open in Chicago next year.

News world 'Clown Show': Barack Obama Reacts To Donald Trump's AI Video Showing Him As An Ape

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