A video posted by President Donald Trump on Truth Social depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes has reignited accusations that Trump is a racist.
The depiction of the Obamas was included in a video clip pushing a conspiracy theory about voting machines during the 2020 election.
The post, now seemingly deleted, has created a firestorm with Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, calling the Obama’s brilliant, compassionate and patriotic Americans, while he described Trump as vile, malignant and a bottom feeder.
He joined calls from California Governor Gavin Newsom for every Republican to denounce the president.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt referred to the video as an internet meme and urged the media enquiring about the post to stop what she called “fake outrage” and urged them to report on something that actually mattered to the American public.
Trump has long been accused of racism including after he referred to African countries in a derogatory manner during his first term.
