Obama criticises Truth Social clip amid wider backlash
PUBLISHED Feb 14, 2026, 9:36 PM ET
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Washington: Former US president Barack Obama addressed a video posted on President Donald Trump's Truth Social account that briefly depicted him and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The clip, posted on Feb 5 and later removed, accompanied a longer video promoting disputed claims about the 2020 election. White House officials attributed the image to a staff error and removed the post after cross-party criticism. Obama, speaking on Brian Tyler Cohen's podcast this week, said the episode reflects a devolution of political discourse and called the rhetoric "deeply troubling." Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research publicly available.
By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Feb 5, 2026: President Trump posted a Truth Social video that briefly depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
- Feb 5–6, 2026: The post was removed; the White House said the inclusion resulted from an erroneous staff action.
- Feb 6–8, 2026: Media outlets and political figures across the spectrum criticised the post and press coverage expanded.
- Feb 15, 2026: Obama discussed the incident on Brian Tyler Cohen's podcast, calling the rhetoric deeply troubling and noting a devolution of discourse.
- Feb 15–16, 2026: Multiple international and domestic outlets published summaries, commentary, and further reporting on reactions and implications.
- Articles Published:
- 7
- Right Leaning:
- 2
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 5
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 71%, Right 29%
Partisan figures and media outlets that amplify polarising content benefited through heightened attention and engagement.
African American individuals, notably the Obamas, and public trust in political institutions suffered reputational and social harm.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
No left-leaning sources found for this story.
From Center
Obama criticises Truth Social clip amid wider backlash
Free Malaysia Today Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) The Sydney Morning Herald Asian News International (ANI) The Times of SwazilandFrom Right
Obama fires back at Trump over 'deeply troubling' video depicting him...
New York Post Internewscast Journal
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