Donald Trump continues to defend ‘rac:i:st’ video he posted of Michelle and Barack Obama despite backlash

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also commented on the situation, describing the post as originating from an internet meme that framed Trump as a “King of the Jungle” and political opponents as characters from The Lion King.

“Please stop the exaggerated outrage and focus on issues that matter to the American public,” she said in response to questions about the controversy.

The debate has continued to generate discussion about the boundaries of political expression online, the use of AI-generated imagery in public discourse, and the responsibilities of public figures when sharing viral content.