Barack Obama breaks the silence after a deleted Trump social media video depicted him as a monkey, warning that political discourse has lost shame and respect in the US.
WEBDESK – Act Global Media
Former US president Barack Obama has spoken publicly for the first time after a controversial social media post shared by Donald Trump depicted him and former first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys, calling the moment evidence of a collapse in political decency.
The AI-generated video, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account during a late night stream of election conspiracy content, sparked bipartisan criticism before being deleted. The White House later attributed the post to a staff error.
Obama condemns “loss of shame”
In an interview released Saturday, Obama did not directly name Trump but strongly criticized the tone of modern politics.
He said public discourse had devolved into cruelty and that behavior once considered unacceptable now carries little consequence.
“There doesn’t seem to be any shame anymore,” Obama said, warning that respect for public office and democratic norms has eroded.
Trump response and backlash
Trump told reporters he did not see the offensive segment but stood by the broader claims in the video regarding the 2020 election, which he continues to dispute.
The clip showed the first Black president and first lady briefly superimposed onto monkeys, triggering outrage from political leaders and civil rights groups who described it as racist.
Political consequences ahead
Obama suggested voters would ultimately respond at the ballot box, predicting such rhetoric could harm Republicans in future elections.
Analysts say the incident highlights deepening polarization in US politics and how social media continues to shape the tone of national debate.
The controversy has reignited discussion about misinformation, online conduct by public officials, and the boundaries of political speech in the digital era.
