A now-deleted social media post has ignited one of the most explosive political controversies of the year.
Former President Barack Obama publicly addressed an AI-generated video that had been shared on Truth Social by President Donald Trump. The clip depicted Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes — imagery widely condemned as racist and dehumanizing.
The post, shared on Feb. 5 and deleted the following day, quickly went viral before being taken down.
The Deleted Video
The AI-generated clip reportedly referenced disputed claims surrounding the 2020 election and ended with an animated depiction of the Obamas as apes.
The video used music from The Lion King, specifically “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” While the Disney film features lions and other animals, it does not include apes — making the imagery in the clip particularly pointed.
After backlash intensified, a White House official told The Hollywood Reporter that the post had been made in error.
“A White House staffer erroneously made the post. It has been taken down,” the official said.
Obama’s Response
Speaking Saturday in an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama addressed what the host described as a growing climate of cruelty in political discourse.
“First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that a majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” Obama said.
He acknowledged that such posts generate attention but described them as distractions from more meaningful conversations.
“As I’m traveling around the country… you meet people, they still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness,” he added.
Obama also criticized what he characterized as a loss of decorum in public office.
“There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of propriety and respect for the office.”
Bipartisan Backlash
Reaction was swift and, in some cases, bipartisan.
Gavin Newsom called the post “disgusting behavior by the president.”
Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Tim Scott wrote online that he hoped the video was fake, calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and urging its removal.
Although the post was deleted, screenshots and clips had already circulated widely across platforms, intensifying debate about AI-generated content and the boundaries of political rhetoric.
A Larger Conversation About AI and Politics
The controversy highlights a growing challenge in the digital age: the power of AI-generated media to amplify political conflict.
Deepfakes and manipulated content can spread rapidly, often before fact-checkers or officials respond. Even deleted posts can continue shaping narratives long after they are removed.
For Obama, the issue appeared to transcend one video.
His broader message focused on preserving standards of decency — even amid escalating political polarization.
Whether this episode fades or becomes a defining moment in the evolving intersection of AI and politics remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: in today’s media environment, even a deleted post can spark a national reckoning.
