Hardin County GOP chair issues apology after sharing ‘vile’ AI-generated video
The chair of the Hardin County Republican Party has apologized after sharing on Facebook a video depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife as apes.
Chair Bobbie Coleman shared a link to the artificial intelligence-generated video on the Hardin County Republican Party of Kentucky Facebook page on Saturday. The video depicted Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes dancing to a song from Disney’s “The Lion King.”
It also depicts several members of the Democratic Party as animals and President Donald Trump as a lion.
The video has since been deleted.
Comparing Black people to monkeys has long been used as a racist insult.
Coleman has since deleted the post and issued an apology, saying the video was “intended to celebrate President Trump’s successful policy achievements by depicting him as a Lion King, triumphing over liberal Democrats.”
“I apologize for sharing the video and for amplifying offensive imagery of former President Obama,” Coleman wrote on Facebook. “As someone who does not engage with racist tropes, I did not consider the underlying meaning that this video may have had. I am not racist and any suggestion to the contrary does not reflect my values or character.”
The Republican Party of Kentucky on Saturday issued a statement condemning the video, and said it was opening an investigation.
“The Republican Party of Kentucky condemns hate in all its forms,” the statement said.
“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.”
Robert J. Benvenuti III is chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky.
Coleman said the video was deleted from Facebook, and an apology made “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,” Coleman said. “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.”
This story was originally published October 26, 2025 at 11:31 AM.