Barack Obama breaks silence on Trump AI video, calls social media a 'clown show'

Former President Barack Obama has spoken out following the circulation of an AI-generated video on Donald Trump’s Truth Social account that depicted him and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. 

The 44th president described the clip and related incidents as part of the broader “clown show” of social media, lamenting a decline in decorum and respect for public office.

“First of all, I think it’s important to recognise that a majority of the American people find this behaviour deeply troubling,” Obama told Brian Tyler Cohen in a recent interview. 

“It gets attention. It’s a distraction. But as I’m traveling around the country… people still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness.”

Obama added that the erosion of propriety extends beyond social media. “There doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of respect for the office. So, that’s been lost,” he said.

The AI video was removed shortly after posting, with a Trump spokesperson attributing it to a staffer who “erroneously made the post.” 

Trump himself has refused to apologise, claiming he “didn’t make a mistake” and that no staffer has been fired. 

Karoline Leavitt defended the video as a parody of The Lion King, dismissing public criticism as “fake outrage.”

The controversy underscores ongoing tensions over misinformation, AI-generated content, and the boundaries of political satire in digital spaces. 

Obama’s remarks emphasise a call for civility and respect amid the viral, often inflammatory culture of modern social media.