On Feb. 5, a video depicting Michelle and Barack Obama as apes was posted on President Donald Trump’s social media accounts. The heinous level of racism embedded in this 60-second video should disgust everyone, no matter what their political affiliations are.
In true form, both Trump and his brainwashed entourage rushed to lift any blame from themselves and pretend as though the messaging wasn’t deeply problematic. Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the video, saying “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
Contrary to Leavitt’s point, this is important to the American public. It doesn’t matter that you think providing context absolves guilt — Trump is racist and so is anyone who defends him.
To partake in a blatantly eugenic and racial stereotype that compares Black individuals to monkeys is undisputedly despicable. Quentin James, co-founder of the Collective Political Action Committee commented on the video, stating, “The fact that a sitting president is now using A.I. to circulate the same dehumanizing imagery that appeared in 19th-century propaganda should alarm every American, regardless of party.”
To reference a trope which dates back to slavery and the dehumanization of people of color should terrify the United States’ populace.
While some have come to the President’s defense and made an unidentified staff member his scapegoat, the very fact that he won’t apologize for the extreme racism displayed in the video speaks for itself. Trump has such a long history of spreading bigoted language that it, quite unfortunately, is not shocking he refuses to take accountability. When directly asked if he had a message for the people hurt by the video, he replied, “I really have no message.”
However, he crossed the line in such an immense way with this video that even people closely associated with him are speaking out. As detailed in an article by The New York Times, Tim Scott, Republican senator of South Carolina and ally of Trump reacted, saying “It’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.”
The Obamas haven’t commented on this recent controversy, but a comment Michelle Obama made at the 2024 Democratic National Convention is still just as relevant as it was then: “It’s his same old con, doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better.”
Posting this video at any time would have been atrocious, but releasing it during Black History Month speaks to an even higher level of hatred. If anything, it reveals the true ethos of the current administration, one that can’t stomach the idea that our country is home to diverse individuals who contribute more to society than Trump could ever hope to.
The video also highlights the intense hypocrisy in Trump’s Feb. 3 National Black History Month Proclamation. In it he wrote, “For decades, the progressive movement and far-left politicians have sought to needlessly divide our citizens on the basis of race, painting a toxic and distorted and disfigured vision of our history, heritage, and heroes.”
As much as people may hate it, the truth of the U.S.’ history as a country is grim: it’s one that includes slavery, colonization and the senseless exploitation of people of color. Trying to erase that fact doesn’t change anything. If anyone is causing division, it’s Trump for spreading his bigotry and narrow worldviews for everyone to see.
There are countless other examples of how the current administration is perpetuating racism, including the treacherous ICE raids, but also in something as simple as who performs at a Super Bowl halftime show.
When it was announced that the artist Bad Bunny would be the headliner at Super Bowl LX, many conservatives collectively threw a fit. There was a lot of talk about how the NFL should be featuring an “American” artist, thereby revealing to everyone that they are in desperate need of a geography lesson. Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico, a territory of the U.S. What they are really criticizing is the fact that he isn’t white.
As Julyssa Lopez, an interviewer for the Rolling Stone eloquently stated, “If you love America, you have to love all of America. And Puerto Rico is part of America.”
Another problem individuals had with this choice of performer is the fact that Bad Bunny’s entire discography is sung in Spanish — his prerogative considering it’s his first language. The assumption that someone should only cater to a eurocentric audience is incredibly telling. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, you can still enjoy his music and his message.
As Bad Bunny responded to this criticism, “English is not my first language. But it’s okay, it’s not America’s first language either.”
Following NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defending the choice of performer, some conservatives decided to have their own “All-American” halftime show, hosted through Turning Point USA. One of the main artists featured at this show for racists was Kid Rock, who in reference to Bad Bunny said, “He’s said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.”
If anyone showed love for “America,” it was Bad Bunny. The details at the close of his performance including a billboard that read “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” his naming of each country in the Americas and proudly waving their flags, saying “God Bless America” and holding out a football that read “Together we are America” exuded more overflowing love than Trump and his lackeys could ever aspire to.
Trump’s reaction to Bad Bunny’s love letter to America was not all shocking, with him posting, “The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.” In the face of joy, Trump responds with hate.
At this point the gloves are off. If individuals can still back behind Trump after he continues to spew racist rhetoric, among the other horrendous things he’s done, there’s nothing he could do that would be too far for them. To all of MAGA, just say you’re racist and hate people who don’t look like you or don’t have the same privileges you’ve grown so accustomed to. You should be ashamed.
