Our Statement on Trump's Derogatory Depiction of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama

The NAACP Bucks County Branch is outraged and unequivocally condemns the racist video recently shared by Donald Trump, depicting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. This imagery is vile, dehumanizing, and rooted in a long, ugly history of anti-Black racism used to justify discrimination, exclusion, and violence.

There is no context in which this is acceptable. When a national leader amplifies racist content, it sends a dangerous signal that such behavior is permissible. It legitimizes hatred, emboldens extremists, and places Black communities—especially children—at risk.

Here in Bucks County, we have long dealt with complaints from students and parents about racist acts, slurs, and demeaning imagery in schools and community spaces. We hear, repeatedly, how these incidents harm students’ sense of safety, belonging, and worth. When a President continues to model, excuse, or minimize racism—when the message from the top is that “it’s okay”—these acts will continue. Leadership matters, and the tone set at the highest levels has real consequences in classrooms, hallways, and neighborhoods.

The NAACP was founded to confront exactly this kind of harm.

Silence is complicity.

Accountability is required.

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Today’s Action Item

• Contact your elected officials—every one of them—at the state and federal levels.

• Tell them plainly: this behavior by the President will not be tolerated in a civil society.

• Demand impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives and conviction by the U.S. Senate to remove him from office (only federal officials can take these actions).

• Demand that your elected officials—especially state officials—issue a public statement condemning and admonishing this racist post by the POTUS.

The NAACP Bucks County Branch will continue to stand firm in defense of civil rights, truth, and justice. We urge our community to speak out, demand accountability, and act—now.

U.S. House of Representatives switchboard operator (202) 224-3121

Pennsylvania House of Representatives information (717) 787-2372