Controversial Social Media Posts by President Trump Draw Criticism

President Donald Trump shared a manipulated image of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Sunday. The image depicted the couple waving in front of an Air Force One with graffiti, months after Trump posted a racist image showing them as primates in a jungle. That post was removed after bipartisan condemnation.

The manipulated image showed the Obamas smiling beside a baby blue and white presidential plane adorned with graffiti, including the Democratic slogan “Yes We Can,” “Obama,” and “BLM,” representing Black Lives Matter. Arabic graffiti on the plane read “alhamdulillah,” meaning “praise be to God.” Graffiti is often used in racist messaging against Black people.

Trump has a pattern of personal criticism of the Obamas, using incendiary, sometimes racist, rhetoric. He previously promoted the false claim that Obama was not born in the U.S. and made derogatory remarks about majority-Black countries. These actions have enraged many on his Truth Social platform.

The image of the Obamas as primates appeared earlier in February during Black History Month. After substantial criticism from civil rights leaders and Republican senators, the post was removed. Trump did not apologize, instead blaming a staff member for the post.

The depiction of the presidential plane is sensitive. Last week, Trump flew on a new Air Force One, a retrofitted Boeing 747-800 worth $400 million, gifted by Qatar. The aircraft’s signature light blue hull now reflects Trump’s choice of a navy-blue belly with red and gold stripes.

Following a speech for Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence signing, Trump had no public events on Sunday and visited his Virginia golf club. He is scheduled to travel to Turkey on Monday for a NATO summit.

Neither the White House nor the Obamas’ spokeswoman commented immediately. Sunday’s post followed another recent post of Obama’s new library in Chicago, depicted with a large bag of trash and a wasteland surrounding it. Trump claimed the library would become a site for America’s detractors. He had publicly disparaged the Obama library and shared the library image on social media twice.

The Air Force One image was part of a series posted by Trump on his Truth Social platform. Another image featured Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni seemingly admiring Trump, captioned “RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED.” This image adds potential tension to this week’s meetings in Turkey. Trump alleged Meloni repeatedly requested a photo with him during the Group of Seven summit, suggesting she begged for it. This prompted Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to cancel a U.S. visit. Meloni called Trump’s statement “completely fabricated,” denying any such request.