by serena hill
May 8, 2026
The former president said the attack on President Trump’s wife and children with AI-generated racist content crossed the line of decency and respect.
Barack Obama responds to Donald Trump’s racist video
Former President Barack Obama recently criticized the infamous AI-generated video that President Donald Trump shared earlier this year that depicted him and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, as monkeys.
In an interview published by new yorker President Obama said in May that while he did not take Trump’s personal insults to heart, he drew a clear line when it came to attacks involving his family.
President Obama said, “Personally, I don’t think so.” “I always get mad when my wife and kids get dragged into things, because they didn’t choose this. This is a line that I expect them to care about, even people who deeply reject politics.”
The controversy stems from a post President Trump shared on Truth Social on February 5th that featured an AI-generated video promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. The video then cuts to an edited version of the Obamas’ heads atop the bodies of dancing monkeys, with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” playing in the background. The post was later deleted from President Trump’s account following widespread backlash.
Civil rights activists and political commentators criticized the clip for evoking racist images that have historically been used to degrade black people. Asked on Air Force One if he intended to apologize for sharing the video, Trump declined, saying it wasn’t a “mistake” to post.
President Obama believes the use of AI on social media is disingenuous
During an interview with new yorkerPresident Obama also expressed concern about the normalization of AI-generated political content that trivializes violence and public debate.
“This kind of clown show is happening on social media and on television,” President Obama said, adding that Americans are losing “decency,” “decency” and “respect for public office.”
The former president previously spoke publicly about the video in a February interview with progressive podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen, in which he emphasized that many Americans still value “decency, civility, and kindness.”
Related content: Fact: Michelle Obama says it’s ‘impossible’ that President Trump’s actions would be acceptable if they came from his family
