BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY - JULY 31: Former U.S. President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump watch play on the 16th hole during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 31, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., is facing a huge backlash after he made a post on social media post that targeted former First Lady Michelle Obama. Shared on Instagram, the post featured a picture of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Levon Kirkland with the caption, “I found this rare Michelle Obama rookie card.”
He added, “Just a little Super Bowl nostalgia. LOL.”
In a statement to X, independent journalist Aaron Rupard declared that the post displayed “insane levels of racist misogyny.” Comments under the post expressed the same sentiments and labeled the “joke” as “disgusting mean behavior.”
In the post’s caption, Trump Jr. attempted to downplay his intent, and stated, “Deer [sic] fact-checkers I’m told that this is a joke.”
He continued, “So please treat it accordingly though I personally am not 100% sure.”
The controversial post reignited the unfounded conspiracy theory in right-wing circles that claims Obama is a man or a transgender woman. Although the origins of this theory are unclear, it gained traction in the Obama presidency from 2009 to 2017.
A tweet from conspiracy theorist debunker Mike Rothschild‘s from February 2022 explained this theory is part of the “mythology around QAnon.”
QAnon is an online movement that originated on 4chan and promotes fabricated claims about politicians, celebrities and other well-known individuals. The QAnon message revolves around the belief that Trump is secretly fighting against high-profile pedophiles who worship the devil, which has led to the adoption of anti-trans stances by some QAnon supporters.
Rothschild emphasized in his 2022 post that the “Michelle Obama is actually a guy” trope is prevalent within QAnon circles and decried it as sick.
Professor C. Riley Snorton at the University of Chicago supported this and highlighted the disturbing connection between anti-black and anti-trans rhetoric evident in Trump Jr.’s post. Snorton noted that insinuating Michelle Obama is a transwoman perpetuates the scrutiny and policing of black people’s genders and reduces trans individuals to mere punchlines.
Like his dad, Don Jr. is known for his provocative comments. Last month, he called Hunter Biden a “crackhead” and Nikki Haley a “deep state robot.”
On Friday, Don Jr. was hit with a $4 million fine and a two-year ban from operating a business in New York after a judge handed down a ruling in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial. The former president was ordered to pay a $355 million fine.
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