Former President Barack Obama has condemned the erosion of decorum in the White House, indirectly referencing a controversial AI-generated video posted by President Donald Trump that depicted Obama and his wife Michelle as apes. The remarks came amid widespread backlash over the clip, which was uploaded to Trump's Truth Social platform at the beginning of Black History Month and later deleted following thousands of criticisms.
The AI-generated footage, portraying apes in a parody seemingly meant to represent the Obamas, drew immediate accusations of racism from civil rights organizations, political commentators, and members of Congress. Obama, speaking with Brian Tyler Cohen, avoided naming Trump directly but highlighted a perceived abandonment of respect for the White House and proper decorum under the current administration.
"There doesn't seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office. There's this sort of clown show that's happening in social media and on television," Obama said, likening Trump's social media posts and interviews to distractions from critical issues facing Americans and the world.
Obama, who served two terms from 2009 to 2017, responded with restraint, steering clear of personal attacks and emphasizing broader implications. He noted that while social media was available during his presidency, he upheld standards of conduct appropriate for the office.
Trump refused to apologize for the post, telling reporters that he did not make a mistake and dismissing concerns about the racist imagery as overreactions by critics. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president, urging the public to cease what she called "fake outrage."
Prior to its deletion, the White House attributed the upload to one of its staffers, despite the post originating from Trump's personal Truth Social account. Obama's measured critique underscores ongoing tensions over presidential behavior and the boundaries of political discourse on social media.
