Obama decries loss of ‘shame’ in politics after racist Trump post

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama has indirectly addressed a racist video shared on President Donald Trump’s social media platform, telling a podcast host that the "shame" and "decorum" that once guided public officials has been lost.

The offensive video included a clip depicting Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, drawing widespread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.

The White House initially defended the post, dismissing the backlash as "fake outrage." However, the post was later deleted, with officials attributing the upload to a staff member.

Obama addressed the incident during an interview with liberal podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen. When asked about the current tone of political discourse—with Cohen citing Trump’s post among other recent controversies—the nation’s first Black president lamented the erosion of institutional norms.

"There was a time when there were certain guardrails around our behavior," Obama said, noting that the standards of conduct previously expected of those in high office appear to have vanished.

GAROWE ONLINE