Trump Faces Bipartisan Backlash from Pennsylvania Lawmakers Over Racist Video of Obamas
Pennsylvania lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have joined a growing chorus of condemnation after former President Donald Trump shared a racist video on his Truth Social platform depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The incident, which occurred late Thursday, has drawn sharp rebukes from state leaders who called the post “absolutely unacceptable” and a “grave failure of judgment.”
Deep Search: Lawmakers and Officials Respond
The controversial video, which was part of a longer clip promoting debunked theories about the 2020 election and Dominion voting systems, featured a segment where the faces of the former President and First Lady were superimposed onto the bodies of primates dancing to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Pennsylvania Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick issued a stern statement denouncing the post. “Whether intentional or careless, this post is a grave failure of judgment and is absolutely unacceptable from anyone—most especially from the President of the United States,” Fitzpatrick said. He added that “a clear and unequivocal apology is owed.”
On the Democratic side, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro blasted the former president’s actions, aligning with other party leaders who labeled the video “vile” and “unhinged.” The condemnation from Pennsylvania’s delegation reflects a broader bipartisan wave of criticism in Washington. Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senate’s only Black Republican, called the video “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” while Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) stated the post was “wrong and incredibly offensive” and demanded it be deleted immediately.
Objections: White House and Campaign Defenses
Initially, Trump’s team attempted to downplay the severity of the post. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the video as a harmless “internet meme” that depicted Trump as the “King of the Jungle” and various Democrats as characters from the movie The Lion King. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public,” Leavitt stated in a text message to reporters.
However, as backlash mounted from within the Republican party, the tone shifted. By Friday morning, the post had been deleted from Trump’s account. A senior White House official subsequently told news outlets that a staffer had “erroneously made the post” and that the former president had not seen the specific segment featuring the Obamas before it was shared.
Background Info: A History of Contentious Rhetoric
This incident revives long-standing tensions between Trump and the Obamas, dating back to Trump’s prominent role in the “birther” movement, which falsely questioned Barack Obama’s U.S. citizenship. Political analysts note that this latest video employs racist tropes that have historically been used to dehumanize Black people, specifically the comparison to primates.
The video itself was primarily focused on re-litigating the 2020 election, a frequent topic for Trump, but the inclusion of the racist imagery at the end has overshadowed the political message. The clip had been liked thousands of times before its removal. This event marks another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the former president’s social media conduct and its impact on political discourse as the 2026 midterms approach.
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