Former US President Barack Obama has criticised a racist AI-generated video circulated on Truth Social and linked to President Donald Trump, which depicted him and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Speaking during an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama described the incident as troubling but said most Americans still value decency and respect in public life.
“I think it’s important to recognise that a majority of the American people find this behaviour deeply troubling,” he said, adding that while such content attracts attention, it distracts from broader national issues.
The now-deleted video, which referenced debunked claims about the 2020 US election, reportedly ended with animated caricatures of the Obamas. It also included music and imagery referencing Disney’s The Lion King.
Officials at the White House said the post was not authorised and was removed once it was flagged.
Obama also criticised what he described as the erosion of decorum in political communication, saying social media and television increasingly reward spectacle over civility.
“There doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sense of propriety and respect for the office,” he said, warning that such trends risk undermining public trust in institutions.
