President Donald Trump has deleted an AI-generated video from his Truth Social account that briefly depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle setting, triggering swift and broad criticism from both sides of the U.S. political spectrum.

The video, which also included content promoting unsubstantiated 2020 election claims, was posted on Thursday evening and taken down by Friday after mounting pressure from lawmakers, civil rights leaders and commentators.

The controversial clip appeared to be an internet meme with depictions of Democratic figures as jungle animals, but the segment featuring the Obamas struck a deep chord because of its racist overtones, particularly given its release during Black History Month.

Republicans including Senator Tim Scott called the imagery “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” adding urgency to calls for its removal.

Democrats and civil rights groups likewise condemned the imagery as offensive and harmful.

Initially, the White House press secretary defended the post as a satirical internet meme and dismissed outrage as “fake outrage.” After criticism intensified, the video was deleted with officials attributing the posting to an error by a staff member.

Trump later acknowledged he had approved the post but said he had only seen the beginning of the video and was unaware of the offensive ending, and he reiterated that he would not apologise for sharing it.

The episode has reignited debate over the use of social media by political leaders, the spread of AI-generated content and the responsibility of public officials in sharing materials that can be perceived as racially insensitive.

The incident came amid broader discussions about political discourse and accountability in the digital age, and has prompted questions about oversight within the Trump administration’s online communications strategy.