Former President Barack Obama has publicly responded after President Donald Trump shared a controversial video on Truth Social. The clip depicted Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, sparking immediate backlash for its racist undertones.

The video was eventually deleted from the platform, but Trump offered no apology. He claimed a staff member had posted it as parody and did not take personal responsibility for the content.

In a February 14 interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama described the post as “deeply troubling.” He suggested it represents a larger decline in political discourse and public decency.

Obama expressed confidence that most Americans still value kindness and courtesy. However, he criticized the current media landscape, calling it a “clown show” fueled by social media and partisan outlets that erode traditional standards.

The controversy drew mixed reactions across political lines. Republican Senator Tim Scott publicly condemned the video as racist, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the outrage and urged media to move on.

Trump defended himself by distancing from the post’s creation. He maintained that he saw no reason to apologize since he had not personally made or originally shared the content.

Beyond the video dispute, Obama raised concerns about immigration enforcement practices under the current administration. He described operations in Minneapolis–Saint Paul as alarming and framed this moment as a test of American values that voters will ultimately judge.