President Donald Trump has come under fire for a social media post that shows former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as apes.
In a video published on his Truth Social account late Thursday evening, a one-second clip of Barack and Michelle Obama’s faces being imposed over cartoon primates is seen.
The video subsequently went viral, with many observers, including those who routinely support President Donald Trump, calling the subject matter racist.
In a statement from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, she argued that the video clip comes from an internet meme and isn’t racist in nature.
“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King,” Leavitt said. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
There are no gorillas or apes that appear in The Lion King.
On social media, many news media members shared their displeasure with the video clip, some calling for President Trump’s removal from office over the situation.
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