Vice President JD Vance expressed that he does not believe President Trump should issue an apology for sharing a controversial video that included a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. The animated video, which showed the Obamas with ape-like features in a jungle scenario, was posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform on February 5 before being removed approximately 12 hours later.
While speaking to reporters ahead of a diplomatic trip to Azerbaijan, Vance reiterated the White House’s statement that the video was uploaded by a staff member who did not fully review it beforehand. “It’s not a real controversy,” Vance stated, highlighting that the administration has more pressing issues to address.
The approximately one-minute video begins with allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election, transitioning to a brief, seemingly AI-generated segment featuring the Obamas. Critics have condemned the imagery, noting the long-standing association of depicting Black individuals as primates with racist undertones in American culture. The video also featured altered images of other political figures; Trump was depicted as a lion alongside Pepe the Frog, a meme associated with alt-right movements.
Initially, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage,” arguing that the image of the Obamas referenced a meme of the couple in “The Lion King.” However, Trump later stated on Air Force One that he had not fully viewed the entire video and did not see the problematic part. He suggested that the responsible staff member had “slipped” and confirmed he had no intentions of issuing an apology.
Vance reinforced this perspective, asserting that since the video was taken down quickly, an apology was unnecessary. “For posting a video and then taking it down? No, I don’t think so,” he remarked, suggesting that such oversights can occur in the fast-paced world of social media.
This incident has sparked a broader discussion about the impact of political imagery and the responsibilities of public figures in the digital age. While the portrayal has been widely criticized, it also emphasizes the necessity for ongoing dialogue about race and representation in media.