Obama Blasts ‘Deeply Troubling’ AI Clip Shared by Trump Depicting Him, Michelle as Apes

Former United States President Barack Obama has broken his silence after President Donald Trump shared — and later deleted — an AI-generated video on Truth Social portraying Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.

Global Mirror News gathered that the controversial clip, which sparked outrage online, resurfaced false claims about the 2020 Presidential election before ending with an animated depiction of the Obamas as apes.

The video reportedly incorporated characters inspired by The Lion King, dancing to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” despite the fact that the Disney classic does not feature apes in its storyline.

Reacting during an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama described the post as disturbing and reflective of a broader decline in political decorum.

“First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that a majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” Obama said. “It is true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction. But, as I’m traveling around the Country, you meet people who still believe in decency, courtesy, and kindness.”

According to Global Mirror News findings, the video was taken down shortly after backlash mounted. White House officials reportedly stated that the post was not authorised and was removed once it was brought to their attention.

Obama further criticised what he described as the erosion of standards in public discourse, particularly in the digital space.

“There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television,” he added. “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. So that’s been lost.”

The incident has reignited conversations around political rhetoric, racial sensitivity, and the growing influence of AI-generated content in shaping public narratives.

Critics argue that such portrayals reinforce harmful stereotypes, while supporters of stricter digital regulations are calling for stronger accountability mechanisms for political figures online.

As reactions continue to trail the episode, the controversy underscores the increasingly combative nature of American politics in the digital age.