1. United States
2. Ala.
3. Letter

I am writing to demand immediate action in response to President Trump's posting of a deeply racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys. This incident represents an unacceptable breach of the dignity and decorum expected from the highest office in our nation. The video invoked a centuries-old racist trope used to dehumanize Black Americans. Even Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate and a longtime Trump ally, called it "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House." When a president's own party members are compelled to speak out against such blatant racism, the severity of the offense cannot be dismissed. The White House's initial response was equally troubling. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the post as coming from a longer meme video, yet the president specifically chose to share only the portion depicting the Obamas as monkeys while excluding clips showing other Democrats as various animals. This was not an accident or oversight. The subsequent claim that an unidentified staffer posted it lacks credibility and represents an attempt to evade accountability. This is not an isolated incident. In September, the president posted a vulgar AI-generated deepfake video featuring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero, prompting Jeffries to respond that "bigotry will get you nowhere." A pattern of racist behavior from the president damages our nation's standing, emboldens hate groups, and sends a message that such conduct is acceptable. I urge you to publicly condemn this action and support measures to hold the president accountable, including censure or impeachment proceedings. Our democracy cannot function when the president openly engages in racist attacks against fellow Americans. Your constituents deserve leadership that will stand against bigotry regardless of party affiliation.