Obama Condemns Trump’s Racist Video as a “Clown Indicate” Distraction
Updated Feb. 15, 2026, 11:24 a.m. ET
Barack Obama has addressed the racist video President Donald Trump posted of him and Michelle Obama, characterizing the move as a deliberate “clown show” intended to divert attention from substantive issues. The animated clip, shared on Truth Social last week, depicted Trump as a lion and the Obamas as apes in a jungle. It quickly drew bipartisan condemnation, including from Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who labeled it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
Appearing on Brian Tyler Cohen’s Saturday podcast, Obama spoke out about the bigoted cartoon, stating that it doesn’t reflect the views of most Americans. “First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” said the former president, conceding that such actions serve as an effective distraction and attention-seeking ploy.
Obama noted that his experiences traveling across the country reveal a level of civility markedly different from the behavior displayed on platforms like Truth Social and X. “There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television,” he said.
While Obama did not mention Trump by name, he lamented a perceived lack of decency within the administration. “What is true is that 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,” Obama said. “So that’s been lost.”
The former president expressed confidence that the majority of the public opposes hostility and intolerance, citing protests against the actions of immigration officials in Minneapolis and other cities as evidence. He believes Americans will ultimately demonstrate their disapproval of the Trump administration through their actions in their communities and at the ballot box.
Trump’s Response and Initial White House Defense
Following the backlash, Trump attempted to deflect blame, attributing the post to an unnamed White House staffer and claiming he hadn’t seen the entire video. He similarly refused to apologize for any perceived mistake.
Initially, press secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to downplay the criticism, urging the media to “stop the fake outrage” and focus on issues she deemed more important. Still, this response was widely criticized, even by Trump allies. A White House official later stated that a staffer “erroneously made the post,” leading to its removal.
Senator Tim Scott’s Rebuke
Senator Tim Scott, the Senate’s only Black Republican, was among the first to publicly condemn the video, calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” According to The Hill, Trump personally called Scott following his criticism, claiming the repost was a staffer’s mistake and promising to remove it, which he subsequently did.
CBS News reported that other Republican lawmakers also contacted the president to urge him to take down the post.
USA Today noted Scott’s condemnation was a departure for the typically vocal Trump backer, who was even considered as a potential vice presidential candidate.
Broader Republican Reaction
The Associated Press reported that Trump faced rare criticism from within his own party over the racist post, with several Republican lawmakers expressing their disapproval.