The president of the United States posted a racist video Thursday night depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. On Friday, the White House dismissed criticism — but the president deleted the post. Was this episode disappointing? Yes. Surprising? Not anymore.
Last spring, after Pope Francis died, Donald Trump posted an AI image of himself as the pope, just days before cardinals convened to elect a successor.
So, no — it is not surprising that the president would choose to post virulent anti-Black imagery during Black History Month.
But it is disappointing here in 2026 that an occupant of the Oval Office is still thinking like that.
Back in 1971, the president of the U.S. laughed when the governor of California referred to the African delegates at the United Nations as monkeys. Less than 10 years later, that governor became the president. And half a century later, yet another president has amplified that racist trope.