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orangecrush

(29,566 posts)
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:15 AM Feb 6

Karoline Leavitt Gives Jaw-Dropping Defense of Trump's Racist Obama Video

In a frenzied posting spree overnight, Trump shared a clip about conspiracy theories regarding so-called rigged elections. The video ends showing the Obamas with their heads superimposed onto the bodies of animated apes.

The video was widely condemned, with California Governor and Trump foe Gavin Newsom describing it as “disgusting.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, called the outrage around it “fake".

In a statement to Newsweek and other outlets, Leavitt said: “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King.”

“Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public,” Leavitt added.


https://www.thedailybeast.com/karoline-leavitt-gives-jaw-dropping-defense-of-donald-trumps-racist-obama-video/

57 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Karoline Leavitt Gives Jaw-Dropping Defense of Trump's Racist Obama Video (Original Post) orangecrush Feb 6 OP
Republicans are okay with it dalton99a Feb 6 #1
Yes it plays well with his base. surfered Feb 6 #14
of course they're ok with it... agingdem Feb 6 #42
Republicans are the ones who have stoked racism and used it to get elected for decades. Lonestarblue Feb 6 #44
The ease with which they can lie... Chasstev365 Feb 6 #2
What "matters to the American public" is that we should have a President LeftinOH Feb 6 #3
bingo rampartd Feb 6 #10
And this is what he is doing late at night newdeal2 Feb 6 #11
"god grant me the serenity....." rampartd Feb 6 #15
We should focus on things that matter to the public? intheflow Feb 6 #4
'zactly. durablend Feb 6 #5
Seeing the "fake" excuse a lot on Twitter. Even Grok confirms it's true. underpants Feb 6 #6
Another example of attempted Leavitty.. BattleRow Feb 6 #19
Leavitty.. malaise Feb 6 #27
Normalization of NAZI. Kid Berwyn Feb 6 #7
She plays that little Nazi role down pat. Emile Feb 6 #8
shouldn't she go on maternity leave or somethng? mountain grammy Feb 6 #9
I pity... GiqueCee Feb 6 #18
Uh, I can assure the lying blonde lady wearing a cross that my outrage is not fake. surfered Feb 6 #12
Same orangecrush Feb 6 #13
Only one thing that Ms. Leavitt should say. Does Karoline Cross Wearer know Jesus was black? Botany Feb 6 #16
Memo to Leavitt: AverageOldGuy Feb 6 #17
Money Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Feb 6 #25
Trump as king of the racists! mymomwasright Feb 6 #20
There will come a day Johnny2X2X Feb 6 #21
so it's OK if I superimpose DUMP's face on Clyde from Every Which Way But Loose eShirl Feb 6 #22
I prefer that you superimpose his image Prof. Toru Tanaka Feb 6 #36
Someone already did a version with the caption "Planet of the Rapes"... rubbersole Feb 6 #39
This message was self-deleted by its author rubbersole Feb 6 #40
Right. Your outrage should be used on important things... Ol Janx Spirit Feb 6 #23
I could say what she is but it might be pulled Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Feb 6 #24
They are literally trying to bully us into accepting racism angrychair Feb 6 #26
Why does she think it matters that it's from a longer video that included non-AA people as animals as well? thesquanderer Feb 6 #28
Forever and always she's a pig wolfie001 Feb 6 #29
What's the fake outrage? EnergizedLib Feb 6 #30
We know you all are racists. No need to make up lies about your racism. Solly Mack Feb 6 #31
"...report on something today that actually matters to the American public." Wednesdays Feb 6 #32
Out of the mouth of the holier than thou Queen of Fake Outrage. flashman13 Feb 6 #33
She wears a cross necklace. COL Mustard Feb 6 #46
That religious symbol has simply become a right-wing logo. It's just another form of cos play. flashman13 Feb 6 #51
This is infantile Beck23 Feb 6 #34
Goebbels dismisses holocaust as boyish pranks by overeager patriots. Ping Tung Feb 6 #35
Tha same dude who said, " power tends to corrupt, and absolute power raccoon Feb 6 #41
I agree with most of his sayings but not all. I do agree with this one. Ping Tung Feb 6 #50
ANY other employee, manager, or board member would be immediately fired if they did this Blue Owl Feb 6 #37
IOW: He was just joking. QED Feb 6 #38
Can I say one thing...FUCK YOU Carolyin'. I've had about enough of your racist,trump humping Bengus81 Feb 6 #43
Every time I think Trump and his minions COL Mustard Feb 6 #45
Trump has a lot of nerve talking about spies after what was revealed in the Epstein files. ChicagoTeamster Feb 6 #47
She has the brains of a ping-pong ball struggle4progress Feb 6 #48
The Botox-lipped liar's biggest lie was that she'd never lie to the American people (nt) William Seger Feb 6 #49
There is nothing jaw dropping. This administration is racist. n/t Jacson6 Feb 6 #52
After Karoline Leavitt tried to defend the latest example of the president's routine racism, the White House stepped on LetMyPeopleVote Feb 6 #53
Another lie and Karolyin's cross grows a little larger. Hassler Feb 7 #54
Joint statement from @DemGovs on not attending White House events LetMyPeopleVote Feb 11 #55
Why does anyone bother to ask her anything? mdbl Feb 11 #56
Trump defends racist Obama video as 'very strong' documentation of key campaign claim LetMyPeopleVote Friday #57

agingdem

(8,805 posts)
42. of course they're ok with it...
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:46 AM
Feb 6

Republicans voted for a a malicious sadistic hate-fueled racist degenerate because there was no way in hell they were going to "allow" another person of color to occupy the Oval Office again...no surprise there...

Lonestarblue

(13,363 posts)
44. Republicans are the ones who have stoked racism and used it to get elected for decades.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:51 AM
Feb 6

Beginning with Reagan and made worse by Trump. There's a reason Reagan announced his candidacy for president in Neshoba County, Mississippi. It was near the site where the KKK murdered civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner in 1964. Reagan chose a rural location and one where citizens supported the Klan and a one of the most racist states in the country. Reagan's speech focused on states' rights, a phrase used by white supremacists to justify racial segregation.

There's a direct progression from Nixon's Southern Strategy to incarcerate as many black voters as possible to prevent their votes to Trump's vicious racist policies of today. Trump's Republican Party is totally white supremacist and groups like ICE are today's version of the KKK.

I expect nothing to change because Republicans love to hate non-white people and are delusional enough to believe that they can make the US an all-white nation.

LeftinOH

(5,634 posts)
3. What "matters to the American public" is that we should have a President
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:18 AM
Feb 6

who does not engage in crass and juvenile internet trolling. That matters.

newdeal2

(5,122 posts)
11. And this is what he is doing late at night
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:47 AM
Feb 6

He is probably on so many drugs that he can’t sleep so he goes into these manic episodes. It’s quite scary in a way.

rampartd

(4,395 posts)
15. "god grant me the serenity....."
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:58 AM
Feb 6

this has only just begun

if kelly can be recalled to duty for court martial so can i. musk has everything he needs to steal every mortgage and clean all our bank accounts. overnight.

i can't let that stop the fight, but does caution discretion.

intheflow

(30,107 posts)
4. We should focus on things that matter to the public?
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:22 AM
Feb 6

Like abolishing ICE and the Epstein files? If you say so, KKKaroline.

durablend

(9,122 posts)
5. 'zactly.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:32 AM
Feb 6

WHERE'S THE EPSTEIN FILES ALREADY?

I don't see things getting more affordable either.

How 'bout we talk about those.

underpants

(195,749 posts)
6. Seeing the "fake" excuse a lot on Twitter. Even Grok confirms it's true.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:33 AM
Feb 6

So it’s more of the:
He didn’t do or say that
Okay he did but you don’t understand what he meant
Relax/ it was a joke.


Botany

(76,854 posts)
16. Only one thing that Ms. Leavitt should say. Does Karoline Cross Wearer know Jesus was black?
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:06 AM
Feb 6

Posting that blatant racist computer generated image was wrong and myself and President Trump
apologize for doing so and it was an unthinking action. The racism in that image is unAmerican.

Btw 35% of Americans are good with this level of racism they are Trump’s base.



AverageOldGuy

(3,622 posts)
17. Memo to Leavitt:
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:09 AM
Feb 6

That's not the point, fool.

Why is the most powerful man in the world, the man with his finger on the nuclear trigger, spending his nights firing off hours and hours of social media junk??

And why are you defending him??

Johnny2X2X

(23,908 posts)
21. There will come a day
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:25 AM
Feb 6

When all of these monsters slink away to live the rest of their lives in shame, unable to show their faces in public.

Prof. Toru Tanaka

(2,917 posts)
36. I prefer that you superimpose his image
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:20 AM
Feb 6

on those fools Clyde took “right turns” on. But I like your reference to the movie!

rubbersole

(11,135 posts)
39. Someone already did a version with the caption "Planet of the Rapes"...
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:40 AM
Feb 6

..I'd post it if I could.

Response to eShirl (Reply #22)

Ol Janx Spirit

(874 posts)
23. Right. Your outrage should be used on important things...
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:31 AM
Feb 6

...like reporters not smiling enough when they ask you questions about your pedophile past; or who is performing at the halftime of the Super Bowl; or meanies saying mean things and wearing buttons at the Grammys.

It's not like racism ever hurt anyone.....

angrychair

(11,988 posts)
26. They are literally trying to bully us into accepting racism
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:40 AM
Feb 6

They will bully the press into accepting this racist trash and they will all nod their heads like bobble headed dolls and do whatever they are told.

Fvkc the news media. All of it. All of them. They are all worthless sycophants, sucking up to a madman.

thesquanderer

(12,933 posts)
28. Why does she think it matters that it's from a longer video that included non-AA people as animals as well?
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:47 AM
Feb 6

The lack of that context provides its own context, too.

EnergizedLib

(2,997 posts)
30. What's the fake outrage?
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:57 AM
Feb 6

Anybody with any decency? Any African American who sees it, regardless of how they voted?

So, let’s say if even this doesn’t matter to the American public, what about stocks being plummeted, the bad job market, layoffs inching higher in January?

Wednesdays

(22,085 posts)
32. "...report on something today that actually matters to the American public."
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:07 AM
Feb 6

Well the 25th Amendment actually matters to the American public, no?

flashman13

(2,238 posts)
51. That religious symbol has simply become a right-wing logo. It's just another form of cos play.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:19 PM
Feb 6

No different that the Mar-A-Lardo faces.

Ping Tung

(4,289 posts)
35. Goebbels dismisses holocaust as boyish pranks by overeager patriots.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:17 AM
Feb 6
“Every doctrine to become popular, must be made superficial, exaggerated, untrue." Lord Acton

raccoon

(32,309 posts)
41. Tha same dude who said, " power tends to corrupt, and absolute power
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:45 AM
Feb 6

Corrupts absolutely.”

I’ll have to look up the rest of his quotes. Must’ve been a pretty smart fellow.

Ping Tung

(4,289 posts)
50. I agree with most of his sayings but not all. I do agree with this one.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:09 PM
Feb 6
There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it. Lord Acton

Blue Owl

(58,708 posts)
37. ANY other employee, manager, or board member would be immediately fired if they did this
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:28 AM
Feb 6

Ms. Leavitt, please explain the goddamned double standard to us, you enabling traitor...

Bengus81

(9,991 posts)
43. Can I say one thing...FUCK YOU Carolyin'. I've had about enough of your racist,trump humping
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:49 AM
Feb 6

screed too. Why that husband of yours hasn't file for divorce is beyond me.

COL Mustard

(8,090 posts)
45. Every time I think Trump and his minions
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:55 AM
Feb 6

Have reached bottom, they surprise me by digging lower. They are truly disgusting.

LetMyPeopleVote

(177,544 posts)
53. After Karoline Leavitt tried to defend the latest example of the president's routine racism, the White House stepped on
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:45 PM
Feb 6

After Karoline Leavitt tried to defend the latest example of the president’s routine racism, the White House stepped on her dreadful argument.

Trump amplifying another racist video got me thinking about the commitment he made to Black voters in his second inaugural — and how quickly he returned to the kind of gutter racism that helped fuel his political rise in the first place. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-02-06T16:01:29.577Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-house-tries-to-defend-trump-amplifying-a-racist-video-targeting-the-obamas

In the fall, for example, the Republican used the term “DEI” as a slur for minorities in blaming their involvement with the construction of Barack Obama’s presidential library. Soon after, the president, as part of an ugly anti-immigrant pitch, publicly referred to Somali Americans as “garbage” and revived his “s—hole countries” rhetoric.

The list, alas, continues to grow longer. The Associated Press reported:

President Donald Trump used his social media account to share a video about election conspiracy theories that includes a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle. […]

Nearly all of the 62-second clip, which was among dozens of Truth Social posts from Trump overnight, appears to be from a conservative video alleging deliberate tampering with voting machines in battleground states as the 2020 presidential votes were tallied. At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them
.


The fact that the Republican president didn’t make the video himself is hardly exculpatory: Trump saw the video and thought it’d be a good to idea to amplify it, just as he did in his first term when he promoted a video of a supporter wearing Trump campaign gear while shouting “white power!”...

Republican Sen. Tim Scott, who is Black, wrote online that he was praying the video “was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” The South Carolinian, who’s currently chairing the National Republican Senatorial Committee, added: “The President should remove it.”....

Complicating matters, a few hours after Leavitt tried to defend the racist video, the White House changed its story, saying in a statement, “A White House staffer erroneously made the post. It has been taken down.”

Evidently, the press secretary’s “fake outrage” line proved unsustainable.

In his second inaugural address, Trump said: “To the Black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote. We set records, and I will not forget it. I’ve heard your voices in the campaign, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come.”

Like too many of Trump’s promises, he wasted little time in trashing this commitment and returning to the kind of gutter racism that helped fuel his political rise in the first place.

mdbl

(8,376 posts)
56. Why does anyone bother to ask her anything?
Wed Feb 11, 2026, 02:34 PM
Feb 11

She's obviously a graduate of Drump University where you can get a degree for not showing up.

LetMyPeopleVote

(177,544 posts)
57. Trump defends racist Obama video as 'very strong' documentation of key campaign claim
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 11:05 AM
Friday

trump is truly mentally ill. This video was a pure racist attack on the Obamas and had nothing to do with voter fraudl

Donald Trump has excused the sharing of a racist video featuring Barack and Michelle Obama to his Truth Social account as it actually details voter fraud.

Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-02-13T15:05:59.657Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-obama-2675265609/

Donald Trump has excused the sharing of a racist video featuring Barack and Michelle Obama to his Truth Social account as it actually details voter fraud.

The president has erroneously claimed for years that the 2020 elections were rigged. His second term in the White House has led to some pressure on mail-in ballots and the repetition of claims that the Democratic Party did not win the 2020 election. Trump's post to Truth Social last week was criticized by politicians, though the president has tried to explain why the video had been shared, The Daily Beast reported.

He told reporters on Thursday, "That was a video on, as you know, on voter fraud. It was a fairly long video, and they had a little piece and it had to do with the Lion King. It’s doing very well, uh, it’s been shown all over the place, long before that was posted.

"But that was a very strong - and I’m sure you saw it - a very strong piece on voter fraud, and the piece we were talking about was all over the place, many times I believe, for years."

The video was shared to Trump's Truth Social account at around midnight on February 6, with the current president sharing a host of posts, including this video. Said video runs for one minute and two seconds, with the final seconds of the video depicting Barack and Michelle as animals.

Trump had previously targeted Obama with an artificially generated video of the former president being arrested in the Oval Office. The deepfake video appeared in July last year on the president's Truth Social account.

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