In Feb 2026, Trump faced bipartisan backlash for sharing an AI-generated racist image of the Obamas, sparking GOP condemnation and internal party rifts.

Trump drew rare bipartisan and Republican backlash after sharing a social media post featuring an AI-generated image depicting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as primates, alongside false claims about the 2020 election. Multiple GOP lawmakers, including Senators Tim Scott, Pete Ricketts, and Susan Collins, condemned the post as racist and unacceptable, demanding its removal and an apology. While Trump claimed he did not see the offensive content before sharing it and said he condemned it, he refused to apologize. The White House initially described the video as a "Lion King" meme, later admitting it was mistakenly posted by a staffer. The incident marked an unusual moment of internal GOP dissent, highlighting deep divisions over Trump’s rhetoric and the boundaries of acceptable political discourse.