Former US President Barack Obama has indirectly responded to a racist video shared on President Donald Trump’s social media account, saying the sense of shame and decorum that once guided public officials has eroded. The now-deleted video, shared on Trump’s Truth Social account, depicted Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, prompting widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. The White House initially dismissed criticism as “fake outrage” before attributing the post to a staff member.
Obama addressed the issue during an interview with liberal podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen, where he was asked about the increasingly harsh tone of US political discourse. Without naming Trump, Obama said such behaviour may attract attention but is deeply troubling to most Americans. He added that despite what he described as a “clown show” on social media and television, many people he meets while travelling still value decency, kindness and respect for public office.
The video, set to The Lion Sleeps Tonight, appeared at the end of a post repeating unfounded claims about fraud in the 2020 election and sparked outrage from lawmakers, including Republican Senator Tim Scott, who called it overtly racist. Trump later told reporters he had not seen the offensive portion of the clip and declined to apologise. In the podcast, Obama warned that the loss of propriety in public life reflects a deeper decline in political norms, even as he urged Americans to recognise that such conduct does not represent the values of the majority.
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