Jack White Says Trump’s Truth Social Video Shows ‘How Far He’s Fallen’

Rock musician Jack White is once again speaking out against Donald Trump, this time over a racist video that briefly appeared on Trump’s official Truth Social account.

The video, which was later deleted, showed Barack Obama and Michelle Obama portrayed as apes dancing in a jungle while the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played in the background. The imagery reflects a long-recognized racist trope that has historically been used to dehumanize Black people.

White shared a screenshot of the video on Instagram on Friday, Feb. 6, calling it unacceptable and dangerous. “This post would basically get anyone, at any job fired immediately,” he wrote, adding that Trump appears to face no consequences despite holding “arguably the most important position in the world.”

He went further, asking, “How is it possible we’ve given this evil man so much power?”

White urged Americans to hold Trump accountable, calling for him to be indicted and jailed. He also referenced Trump’s alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein, noting that Trump’s name appears in the recently released Epstein files. Trump has denied any wrongdoing or criminal involvement.

In his post, White also criticized the U.S. political system, calling for major reforms. He blamed loopholes and the Electoral College for allowing Trump to gain and retain power, warning that global consequences are at stake. White described Trump as unstable and dangerous, emphasizing that the president still has access to nuclear authority.

The video reportedly remained online for about 12 hours before being taken down. A White House official told Variety that it was shared by mistake by a staffer and removed once discovered. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly defended the post, saying it was simply an internet meme portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle” and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. She dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage.”

White and many others strongly disagreed.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has repeatedly accused Trump of promoting racist and fascist ideas. In 2023, White wrote that anyone who treats Trump as normal or respectable is also complicit in his behavior.

More recently, in January, White lashed out at Trump after the president mocked filmmaker Rob Reiner just one day after reports emerged that Reiner and his wife had been murdered. White called Trump “vile” and “narcissistic,” accusing him of exploiting tragedy for political gain.

For White, the now-deleted video is not an isolated incident — it’s another example, he says, of why Trump should never be normalized or excused.