Former President Barack Obama has addressed the video posted by former President Donald Trump depicting him and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. During a recent interview, Obama described the situation as “deeply troubling.”
In a conversation that aired Saturday with journalist Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama responded to a question about the video. Cohen referenced the image directly and asked how the country moves forward amid the ongoing political climate.
Barack Obama Addresses Donald Trump’s Video During Interview
During the interview, journalist Brian Tyler Cohen raised the issue directly. “Just days ago Donald Trump put a picture of you, your face on an ape’s body — and so again, we’ve kind of seen the devolution of the discourse,” Cohen said. “How do we come back from the place that we have fallen into?” Obama responded by addressing public reaction and broader political discourse.
“First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” Obama said. “It is true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction, but as I’m traveling around the country, as you’re traveling around the country, you meet people — they still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness.”
This marked the first time Obama publicly commented on the video. Although he did not mention Trump by name in his response, the context of the question was clear.
The video in question circulated on social media platforms. It quickly gained attention online and sparked conversation across political and media circles. However, Obama’s remarks focused on public sentiment and civic standards rather than directly engaging in personal criticism.
Obama Describes Current Political Discourse As “Clown Show”
In the same interview, Obama discussed what he described as a shift in political decorum.
Obama said that there is a “sort of clown show” playing out on social media and on television. He added: “What is true is there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sense of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office. So that’s been lost.”
His comments focused on political tone and public standards rather than directly naming individuals. He emphasized the importance of civility and public conduct.
The interview clip quickly circulated online. Several media outlets also reported on his response, noting that it was his first public statement regarding the video.
