'Clown show': Obama speaks out on Trump racist monkey clip, Minneapolis crackdown
France 24
by FRANCE 24February 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Former US President Barack Obama addressed the recent racist video posted by President Donald Trump on social media, where the Obamas were depicted as monkeys, calling the behavior "disgraceful" and noting that a lack of decorum has defined political discourse. In a podcast interview with left-wing commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama criticized the devolution of public conversation into cruelty and expressed disappointment in the actions of federal agents during Trump's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Obama described the video as part of a broader trend of "clown show" behavior on social media and television, where there is little shame or respect for office. He emphasized that the majority of Americans find such behavior troubling and believes it will hurt Trump's Republican Party in the midterm elections. While Trump initially distanced himself from the clip, claiming it was posted by a staff error, Obama pointed out the lack of accountability and decorum among those in power.
Turning to Trump's immigration policies, Obama condemned the "rogue behavior" of federal agents during the controversial crackdown in Minnesota, which included two fatal shootings and sparked widespread protests. He compared the actions to those seen in authoritarian regimes, highlighting the systematic overreach of ICE and other agencies. However, Obama found hope in the sustained resistance from local communities, who organized peaceful protests and pushed back against the operations.
The Minneapolis immigration crackdown, carried out by thousands of federal agents, was met with large-scale demonstrations and outrage nationwide. Despite Trump's claims that the operation targeted criminals, critics argued it violated human rights and represented an overreach of power. Obama praised ordinary citizens for their brave and organized efforts to reclaim American values, even in subzero
Verticals
worldpolitics
Originally published on France 24 on 2/15/2026