Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday accused the White House and President Trump of attempting to cover up responsibility for a racist video that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, prompting swift condemnation from Democrats and Republicans alike.
The minute-long video, which was later deleted, circulated online before being removed by the White House. It featured President Trump and several Democratic officials portrayed as animals, with Trump superimposed onto a lion’s body. Near the end of the video, the Obamas’ faces were placed on apes’ bodies, bobbing their heads to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” from The Lion King, as the animal figures bowed before the lion.
“No one believes this cover up from the White House, especially since they originally defended the post,” Harris wrote on X. “We are all clear-eyed about who Donald Trump is and what he believes.”
A White House official told The Hill that a staffer had “erroneously made the post.” Before its removal, however, press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially defended the video as an “internet meme,” drawing further criticism.
Bipartisan backlash was immediate. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the only Black Republican in the Senate, denounced the depiction of the Obamas as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” calling on the president to take responsibility.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had discussed the matter with Scott and claimed he had only seen the beginning of the video. “Of course” he condemned it, Trump said, but he stopped short of apologizing and insisted he “didn’t make a mistake” in allowing it to be posted.
Democrats were unsparing in their criticism. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called the video “disgustingly racist” and questioned whether Republicans would continue to “bend the knee to a racist, authoritarian president.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the video was posted “intentionally,” blasting Trump’s behavior in a video message shared on Instagram.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also depicted in the video, responded with pointed sarcasm. His press office posted a poll on X asking followers, “Who should Trump fire first?” listing senior administration officials alongside the unnamed staffer blamed for the post.
The episode has reignited broader concerns about racial rhetoric, accountability, and the tone set by the White House, as lawmakers from both parties press the president for a clearer acknowledgment of responsibility.
