Barack Obama has spoken out after an AI-generated video depicting him and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes was shared on Donald Trump’s Truth Social account, describing the incident as part of a wider erosion of decorum in public life.
The video, which was later removed, was defended by the White House as a parody referencing ‘The Lion King’. A spokesperson said it had been posted in error by a staff member and subsequently taken down. Donald Trump has since distanced himself from responsibility, stating that he did not post the clip personally and insisting no staff member was dismissed over the incident.
In a recent interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama addressed the controversy, suggesting the episode reflected the increasingly chaotic tone of social media discourse.
“A majority of the American people find this behaviour deeply troubling,” he said. “It gets attention and it serves as a distraction, but when you travel around the country you still meet people who believe in decency, courtesy and kindness.”
Obama went on to criticise what he described as a loss of “decorum” and “respect for the office”, arguing that public life has become dominated by spectacle.
“There’s this sort of clown show happening on social media and television,” he said. “What’s striking is the absence of shame among people who once felt a sense of propriety.”
