Trump deletes racist Obama meme from Truth Social and blames anonymous staffer

February 6, 2026

A troubling meme surfaced on Donald Trump’s Truth Social account, showing Barack and Michelle Obama depicted in dehumanizing, ape-like imagery. The post remained online for about 12 hours before it was removed, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, defended the post by calling it an internet meme. In a statement reported by Variety, an unattributed White House spokesperson said a staffer had accidentally posted the content and that it was subsequently taken down. The White House emphasized that the post did not reflect administration policy or views, a line Trump has used in similar situations before.

The incident has intensified scrutiny over online messaging from the administration and the peril of staffer errors in the age of social media. Critics argued that the meme amplifies racist tropes, while supporters of Trump framed the episode as a misguided online joke. As of now, there has been no formal admission of who posted the content, and responses from broader political circles have varied widely.

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