Trump Defends Racist Video of Obamas, Links It to Disney's The Lion King
President Donald Trump on Thursday defended the posting of a racially charged video that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, suggesting it was connected to Disney's The Lion King. The controversy erupted after the video was shared last week on Trump's Truth Social account, portraying the Obamas and other Democratic leaders as animals, which invokes a well-known racist trope. The White House later deleted the post, stating that a staffer had "erroneously made the post," though the identity of that staffer remains undisclosed.
Trump's Response at White House Event
During an Environmental Protection Agency event at the White House, a reporter pressed Trump on whether anyone had faced consequences for the video. "Mr. President, have you fired or disciplined that staffer who posted the video from your account that included the Obamas?" the reporter asked. Trump replied, "No, I haven't. That was a video on, as you know, voter fraud and fairly long video, and they had a little piece and had to do with the Lion King."
He continued to defend the broader clip, arguing that it had circulated widely before appearing on his account. "It's been very, well, it's been shown all over the place long before that was posted," Trump said. "But that was a very strong, and I'm sure you saw it, a very strong piece on voter fraud. And the piece that you're talking about was all over the place. Many times, I believe, for years."
Backlash and Republican Reactions
Hours after Trump shared the video, right-wing influencer Laura Loomer posted a longer version portraying numerous elected officials as animals, including Trump as "king of the jungle." The backlash was swift, with Republican lawmakers privately urging Trump to remove the video. According to CNN, sources indicated that Republican lawmakers called Trump directly about the post, asking for it to be taken down, and many GOP senators and House members publicly called for its removal.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later addressed the matter in a statement, saying, "This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King." She added that the video was "fake" and urged, "Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public."
The episode unsettled some Republicans, with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott reacting publicly by stating, "Praying it was fake because it's the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House. The President should remove it."
Broader Implications and Media Coverage
This incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Republican Party and raises questions about racial sensitivity in political discourse. The video's use of racist imagery has sparked debates about accountability and the spread of misinformation on social media platforms. As the story develops, it underscores the challenges in addressing hate speech and divisive content in the digital age.
