Senior U.S. Church Leaders Demand Presidential Apology Over Racist Meme

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2026, 8 p.m. — In a striking display of moral outrage, two top Catholic leaders are calling on President Donald Trump to apologize for sharing a racist meme that mocked former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago and Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit issued powerful statements Monday condemning Trump’s social media post and demanding he take responsibility.

“Our shock is real,” said Cupich. “So is our outrage. Nothing less than an unequivocal apology – to the nation and to the persons demeaned – is acceptable. And it must come immediately.”

Archbishop Weisenburger echoed the sentiment, saying, “We join many voices calling for a public apology and full accountability. Claims that the outrage is ‘fake’ are unacceptable.”

The offending meme, an animated clip depicting apes with the Obamas’ faces superimposed, was part of a longer video falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen. Trump reposted it to his Truth Social platform shortly before midnight on February 5, sparking outrage across political lines.

While the White House initially defended the post, claiming it was an internet meme depicting Trump as “King of the Jungle,” pressure mounted. The post was eventually deleted after about 12 hours, with the White House blaming a staffer for the mistake.

“You know, I didn’t see it,” Trump claimed on Friday, brushing off questions about the meme. “It was about voter fraud. We took it down as soon as we found out, but I didn’t make a mistake. I won’t apologize.”

Meanwhile, Catholic leaders condemned the racist imagery. Weisenburger called it “deeply offensive.”

Cupich pointed out the historical roots of such dehumanization, noting how past cartoons and media mocked immigrant groups, fueling discrimination and violence.

Both leaders urged the President to acknowledge the damage and apologize, emphasizing the importance of confronting racism in America.

Weisenburger added that beyond the apology, there must be a collective reckoning.

Rob Redding is the author of No. 1 best selling book Black Power in the Age of Artificial Supremacy Featuring Redding-Shim Kwet Yung . He is the bestselling author of 18 books. He is the host of Redding News Review Unrestricted and creator of ReddingNewsReview.com. He is also an emerging visual artist who lives and teaches at two colleges in New York City.