By Rev. Stacy Swimp
On the night of Feb. 5, 2026, a video shared to President Trump’s Truth Social account depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. This occurred during the first week of Black History Month, just days after a presidential proclamation praising the contributions of Black Americans. This was not a mere “social media blunder” but a moment demanding we examine our commitment to truth and human dignity.
The stewardship of truth
From a biblical worldview, every human being is created Imago Dei—in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). To distribute imagery likening fellow image-bearers to animals is a theological affront, attempting to erase the divine value woven into every soul. Historically, this specific trope was used for centuries to justify dehumanization and systemic injustice.
The administration’s defense was built on deception. Initially, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage,” claiming the footage was a “Lion King” meme (Lowell, 2026). This was a flat-out lie; the film contains no characters resembling these AI-generated primates. As Scripture warns, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3).
The necessity of accountability
Following intense pressure—including from Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who called the video “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House”—the post was deleted on Feb. 6. The White House blamed a staffer, widely identified as aide Natalie Harp, yet the president refused to apologize, saying, “I didn’t make a mistake.”
In leadership, what you tolerate, you authorize. Research in organizational behavior confirms that leadership inaction is a form of tacit approval. Institutional theory suggests that when leaders fail to address ethical breaches with clear consequences, they risk “moral collapse”—a breakdown in the social systems that support ethical behavior. Furthermore, administrative studies on “supervisory nonresponse” show that failing to correct a subordinate’s harmful behavior signals to the entire institution that such performance is acceptable, ultimately eroding public trust.
A call for revelation and termination
Accountability is an act of love for the truth. The public and the Obamas are owed more than a deleted link:
- Apologies owed: Sincere, public apologies must come from President Trump, who authorized the content, and Karoline Leavitt, who protected it with a false narrative.
- Termination: Both the staffer who posted the video and Karoline Leavitt must be terminated. A spokesperson who weaponizes lies to dismiss moral concerns forfeits the right to represent the public trust.
To ignore this is to allow a stain on our history to remain. We must demand a government that operates with the transparency and ethical responsibility required to maintain the trust of the people it serves.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the AFRO.