Obama Calls Politics a "Clown Show" After Trump's Racist Monkey Video

For one second in a one-minute video, the faces of America's first Black president and first lady were grotesquely superimposed onto the bodies of monkeys. The clip, posted to Donald Trump's Truth Social account on February 5th during Black History Month, represented a new low in American political discourse.

Ten days later, Barack Obama finally broke his silence.

"No Shame" in the New Politics

"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 during a Saturday podcast interview with left-wing commentator Brian Tyler Cohen.

The former president didn't mention Trump by name, but his message was unmistakable: American politics had devolved into what he called a "clown show." The discourse, he argued, had reached "a level of cruelty that we haven't seen before."

The apparently AI-generated video was set to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," made famous by Disney's The Lion King. While most of the clip promoted conspiracy theories about Trump's 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, it was the final second—showing the Obamas with faces on ape bodies, perpetuating centuries-old racist tropes—that sparked bipartisan condemnation.

White House Damage Control

The White House's response revealed the chaotic nature of Trump's operation. Initially dismissing criticism as "fake outrage," officials later blamed the post on a "staff error" before eventually removing it entirely.

Trump himself told reporters he stood by the video's election fraud claims but claimed he "had not seen the offensive clip at the end." The explanation satisfied few, as the video had remained on his personal account for days before removal.

Obama predicted this behavior would hurt Republicans in upcoming midterm elections, noting that "a majority of Americans find this behaviour deeply troubling."

Immigration Crackdown Draws Dictator Comparisons

Beyond the racist video, Obama condemned Trump's immigration enforcement tactics, particularly operations in Minnesota that resulted in two fatal shootings. He compared federal agents' behavior to what "in the past we've seen in authoritarian countries and dictatorships."

Thousands of federal agents, including those with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have conducted sweeping raids in what the Trump administration claims are targeted missions against criminals. Critics argue the operations amount to indiscriminate roundups.

"The rogue behaviour of agents of the federal government is deeply concerning and dangerous," Obama warned.

Citizens Fighting Back

Yet Obama found hope in grassroots resistance. The aggressive anti-immigration operations triggered large protests and nationwide outrage, demonstrating what he called systematic, organized pushback.

"Not just randomly, but in a systematic, organised way, citizens saying, 'this is not the America we believe in, and we're going to fight back, and we're going to push back with the truth and with cameras and with peaceful protests," he explained.

The political battle has real consequences: The Department of Homeland Security faced a partial government shutdown Saturday as lawmakers fought over funding. Democrats are blocking any new DHS funding until sweeping changes are implemented in how ICE conducts operations.

The Broader Stakes

The incidents highlight a fundamental question about American democracy: What happens when basic norms of decency disappear from political discourse? Obama's "clown show" characterization suggests something deeper than partisan disagreement—a breakdown in the shared values that make democratic governance possible.

The timing makes it particularly jarring. The racist video appeared during Black History Month, while immigration raids targeted communities already living in fear. Both actions seem designed to dehumanize rather than govern.

Yet Obama's emphasis on citizen resistance suggests democracy's immune system may still function. From Minnesota protests to congressional funding battles, Americans are finding ways to push back against what they see as authoritarian overreach.