Former US President Barack Obama has broken his silence on a video posted by incumbent Donald Trump that depicted him and his wife Michelle as apes, calling it a lack of "shame" and "decency" in politics. Speaking to Youtuber Brian Tyler Cohen on February 15, 2026, Obama stated that most Americans would find such behavior "deeply disturbing" and predicted it would harm Republicans in the upcoming November midterm elections. The video, posted on Trump's Truth Social platform on February 5, falsely claimed evidence of 2020 election manipulation and featured Obama and his wife with ape bodies. The incident sparked outrage and accusations of racism against Trump, though his spokesperson initially dismissed it as "feigned outrage" before the White House removed the video, attributing its release to an employee's error. Obama also criticized Trump's ICE deportation raids in Minneapolis, comparing them to authoritarian regimes and expressing concern over the "rogue behavior" of federal agents, while also commending citizen resistance.