President Donald Trump has amplified a social media post labeling former first lady Michelle Obama an "anti-White racist," escalating rhetoric that comes weeks after a video shared on his Truth Social account depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
The latest episode unfolded when Trump reposted a message from far-right activist Laura Loomer attacking Michelle Obama while criticizing Netflix over a potential merger involving Warner Bros. Loomer wrote that if such a merger were approved, "positive messaging of the Democrats' upcoming witch hunts against Trump from Barack Hussein Obama @BarackObama and his anti-White racist wife Michelle @MichelleObama would likely be blasted across all streaming services as the Obamas' Higher Ground Productions continues to grow within Netflix."
Loomer further claimed, "The Netflix-Warner Bros. merger would result in a streaming monopoly, which the Obamas will have a significant stake in." Trump did not distance himself from the language. Instead, he reposted Loomer's message and added his own demand that Netflix "fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences."
Susan Rice, who served in the Obama administration, sits on Netflix's board of directors, placing her at the center of the online exchange.
The post follows controversy earlier this month after Trump's Truth Social account circulated a video that superimposed the faces of Barack and Michelle Obama onto the bodies of two apes while The Tokens' song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" played in the background. When asked whether he would apologize, Trump declined, saying he "didn't make a mistake."
"I mean, I look at a lot of thousands of things. I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine," Trump said when questioned about the video. He added, "I guess it was a take off on The Lion King and certainly it was a very strong post in terms of voter fraud." The video was later removed from the platform.
Trump has long defended himself against accusations of racial insensitivity. He previously said he has done "more for Black Americans than anybody, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln," and described himself as "the least racist president you've had in a long time, as far as I'm concerned."
Online reaction to the latest post was swift and polarized. Critics argued the language reflected a pattern of racially charged messaging, while supporters framed it as political counterattack. One social media user wrote, "The worse he becomes, the angrier he gets at the Obamas. We are all a part of his retribution now." Another asked, "Why isn't Donald Trump in an assisted living facility for old demented racists? Why is he in our White House stealing our tax dollars?"
The controversy intersects with broader tensions between Trump and the Obamas, who have maintained a high-profile media presence through Higher Ground Productions, their company's partnership with Netflix. Loomer's argument centered on alleged political influence within streaming platforms, though there has been no public indication that presidential approval is required for any such merger decision involving Netflix.
