Trump sparks outrage over AI video portraying Obamas as monkeys

US President Donald Trump has sparked widespread condemnation after posting an AI-generated video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys.

The video was shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform on Friday, 6 February 2026, and quickly drew backlash across social media platforms.

In the footage, the smiling faces of the former US first couple are digitally imposed on the bodies of monkeys. Michelle Obama’s face appears on a black monkey, while Barack Obama’s face is placed on a brown monkey.

The post triggered swift reactions from political figures and commentators, many of whom described the video as racist and unbecoming of a president.

California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the post in a reaction on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Disgusting behaviour by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now.”

Political commentator Harry Sisson also criticised the video, calling it deeply offensive.
“Trump posted a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys. Incredibly racist and disgusting. Beneath the office of the presidency, like everything he does. Every American must condemn this,” he said.

The controversy comes amid renewed debates about misinformation, artificial intelligence and political rhetoric.

Separately, cybersecurity expert Phil Waldron referenced alleged irregularities surrounding the 2020 US presidential election, claiming that vote counting stopped simultaneously in five key states before resuming with a surge favouring Joe Biden.

“When reporting and counting resumed, a massive spike occurred that favoured Joe Biden,” Waldron alleged, without providing new evidence.

Trump contested the 2020 presidential election but lost to Biden, who previously served as Obama’s vice president from 2009 to 2017.
Trump had earlier defeated Hillary Clinton to win the presidency in 2016, but failed in his bid for a second term.

The latest video is not the first AI-generated content shared by Trump involving Obama. In the past, he posted a fabricated video showing Obama being arrested in the Oval Office and imprisoned.

The incident has reignited concerns about the use of AI-generated content in political discourse, with critics warning that such posts could deepen political divisions and undermine democratic norms.