Statement on President Trump’s Racist Video and Pete Sessions’ Silence
I forcefully condemn President Trump’s racist video depicting the Obamas as apes, and demand Pete Sessions break his silence and denounce this dehumanizing act. Such imagery has a long and painful history — especially during Black History Month.
I am outraged and disgusted by President Donald Trump’s abhorrent decision to post a video depicting President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. This is not just a “meme,” it is a vile act of racism, echoing one of the oldest and most hateful tactics used to dehumanize Black people in America.
Pete Sessions, you have bragged about standing with Donald Trump 97.5% of the time. Will you stand with him now, or will you finally find the courage to condemn this blatant act of racism? Your silence is complicity.
During Black History Month — a time when we honor the resilience, achievements, and humanity of Black Americans — this kind of dehumanizing imagery is especially repugnant. For centuries, racist caricatures have depicted Black people as apes to strip them of their dignity, justify violence, and deny their basic humanity. This is not a relic of the past; it is a weapon of hate that continues to wound and divide.
I call on every leader to denounce this video and the hateful legacy it represents. If you cannot stand up against this, you have no business representing the people of Texas.
The Facts
- President Trump posted a video on Truth Social depicting the Obamas as apes, which was widely condemned as racist and later deleted after bipartisan outrage.
- Pete Sessions has a documented record of aligning with Trump 97.5% of the time and has not publicly condemned this or similar racist incidents.
The History of Dehumanization
During slavery ape imagery was regularly used to justify enslavement and violence, portraying Black people as less than human.
In the Jim Crow era, ape imagery proliferated in media, advertising, and entertainment to reinforce segregation and white supremacy
Depictions of Black people as apes continue to appear in racist cartoons, social media, and public discourse, causing ongoing harm.
Depicting Black people as apes is a deliberate act of dehumanization with a long, painful legacy in American history. It is never a joke — it is always an attack on dignity and humanity.