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A Kentucky Republican leader is facing backlash after sharing a social media video depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, a racist trope that drew condemnation from the state GOP. Bobbie Coleman, chairwoman of the Hardin County Republican Party, confirmed posting the since-deleted video, which she said was intended to celebrate President Donald Trump’s accomplishments. State GOP Chairman Robert J. Benvenuti III called the video “vile and reprehensible” and said the party would take “the harshest action available” against those involved. Coleman later apologized, saying she hadn’t considered the video’s racist implications and insisted it did not reflect her values. Newsweek reached out to Coleman for comment via email on Monday afternoon. Why It Matters Social media posts by political party members at all levels have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, with multiple cases recently including reported racist messages shared between young GOP members, and New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s old Twitter posts brought up as part of questioning his candidacy. Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama appear on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 20, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images) What To Know The video depicted the Obamas as apes dancing to a song from Disney’s The Lion King. It depicted other Democrats as animals and Trump as a lion. Coleman said on Facebook that the video was intended to celebrate Trump’s achievements by “depicting him as a Lion King, triumphing over liberal Democrats.” Her post received mixed responses, with some showing support for the chairwoman and others calling for her to step down from the role. “Here is the state of the Republican Party of Kentucky: the Hardin County GOP got caught posting a blatantly racist video, and the Louisville GOP is defending a special election candidate’s demeaning, misogynistic language against women,” Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge said in a statement shared with Newsweek. “People who compare African Americans to apes and believe the ‘vast majority’ of women have no morals do not belong in leadership positions — not in Kentucky, not anywhere.” The practice of depicting Black people as apes dates back to 18th-century racism and pseudo-scientific theories in which white people drew connections between Africans and apes. Many held onto these beliefs as justification for the enslavement of Black people in Europe and North America, and later to dehumanize freed Black people as an uncivilized threat to white people. These often casual racist depictions lasted well into the 20th century through mediums such as political cartoons, sports commentary and other popular culture. In the modern day, people who have wielded racist tropes against Black people, including the ape comparison, have faced swift social backlash and loss of employment. What People Are Saying Robert J. Benvenuti III, chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky, in a statement released Saturday: “The Republican Party of Kentucky condemns hate in all its forms. The post is vile and reprehensible, and is directly adverse to all that we stand for as a party and a nation. We are actively investigating the matter and will take the harshest action available to us against those involved. We remain committed to the values of Lincoln and advancing liberty and prosperity for every American.” Bobbie Coleman, Hardin County GOP chair, in a post on Facebook Saturday: “I deleted the video and apologized long before the Republican Party of Kentucky issued their statement. While I respect their stance, I had already deleted the post and tried to make amends. I believe the Republican Party is the vehicle to save our country from the far-left and I look forward to continuing to support our Republican candidates and Make America Great Again.” What Happens Next The Kentucky Republican Party didn’t say Monday what actions it might take against anyone involved in the incident. Adam Hope, communications director for the state party, reiterated that it is “addressing the issue and will take the necessary steps to ensure everyone involved is held accountable.” This story includes reporting by the Associated Press. Update 10/27/25, 5:22 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
