Trump's Social Media Post Featuring Altered Obama Image Triggers New Controversy

US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after sharing a doctored image on his Truth Social platform depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama boarding a graffiti-covered Air Force One, reviving criticism over his use of provocative political messaging on social media.

The altered image showed the Obamas smiling beside a presidential aircraft covered with graffiti referencing "Yes We Can," "Obama," "BLM" (Black Lives Matter) and Arabic text reading "alhamdulillah," meaning "praise be to God." Critics argued the imagery relied on racial stereotypes and inflammatory symbolism, while supporters defended it as political satire.

The post comes months after another controversial image shared from Trump's social media account depicted the Obamas as primates, drawing bipartisan criticism before it was removed. Trump declined to apologise at the time, with a staff member later being blamed for the post.

The latest controversy also follows Trump's recent use of a Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8 , retrofitted to serve as Air Force One, bringing renewed attention to the presidential aircraft after he adopted a redesigned exterior colour scheme.

Trump, who spent Sunday at his Virginia golf club after Independence Day celebrations in Washington, is scheduled to travel to Turkey for a summit with NATO allies. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while representatives for the Obamas also did not issue an immediate response.

The Air Force One image was among several posts Trump shared on Sunday, including another edited image involving Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni , continuing a pattern of politically charged online content.

The episode has reignited debate over political communication, misinformation and the use of manipulated images in public discourse . Analysts say digitally altered content shared by prominent political figures can rapidly shape online narratives, deepen political polarisation and complicate efforts to distinguish satire from misinformation, underscoring broader concerns about the influence of social media on democratic debate.