Barack Obama has responded after President Donald Trump posted — and later removed — a social media video portraying the former president and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The footage drew swift criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, reigniting long-standing tensions between the two political rivals.
In an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, the 44th president addressed the incident directly, condemning what he characterized as concerning behavior from the current administration. Obama indicated that many Americans feel unsettled by Trump’s online conduct and broader public demeanor.
His comments represent one of his most pointed replies to Trump in recent months, as national discussions about political rhetoric and standards of leadership continue to shape the news cycle.
Obama calls out loss of decorum
In the interview, Obama referred to both the social media posts and the administration’s public behaviors as a “clown show” and expressed concern about what he sees as a decline in standards tied to the presidency. He also lamented the loss of “decorum” and “propriety” in connection with the nation’s highest office.
The video at the center of the controversy was posted to President Trump’s official Truth Social account last week before being removed. The clip drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Bipartisan criticism and White House response
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially pushed back on the outrage, telling TMZ to “stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
Yet, some members of the president’s own party publicly rebuked the post. Republican Senator Tim Scott described it as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
President Trump later shifted responsibility to an unnamed White House staffer and maintained he did not need to apologize. In a separate clip, he insisted he “DIDN’T MAKE A MISTAKE.”
Obama, for his part, said the American people would ultimately decide how they feel about the administration’s actions when they head to the ballot box.
