Washington D.C., February 10, 2026 – A massive wave of resignations is shaking the White House as approximately **500 staff members** from President Donald Trump’s support teams are reported to have submitted their resignations within just 48 hours following a highly controversial social media post. The incident has triggered an **emergency internal investigation** by the White House Chief of Staff’s office, raising serious questions about stability, morale, and workplace culture inside the second Trump administration.
According to multiple well-placed sources cited by major U.S. outlets (including The New York Times, The Hill, and Politico), the crisis began with a post on **Truth Social** late Thursday evening (February 5, 2026). The post — shared from an official White House-linked account — featured a short, edited video that superimposed former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s faces onto monkey-like figures, set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” with an implicit reference to 2020 election conspiracy theories.
The clip spread rapidly and provoked widespread outrage. Senator Tim Scott, one of the most prominent Black Republicans, publicly described the content as “**the most disgusting display of racism**” he had ever seen come out of the White House. Several other Republican lawmakers joined in the condemnation, while Democrats labeled it “**the clearest sign yet of moral decay**” within the current administration.
By Friday afternoon, the post had been deleted. A White House spokesperson initially stated that “**a staff member inadvertently posted the content**” and emphasized that “the President was not aware.” That explanation failed to calm the storm. Multiple longtime employees told reporters this was not the first time controversial material had been posted from official channels without proper vetting.
According to individuals close to the departing staff, the real exodus began early Saturday morning (February 7, 2026). Employees from communications, digital media, foreign policy advisory roles, and even several senior positions in the Chief of Staff’s office submitted immediate resignation letters. One anonymous staffer told The Hill:
> “We had raised red flags repeatedly. This time it crossed a line no one could ignore. No one wants to be associated with openly racist content posted on official White House channels.”
Another source revealed that at least **three internal group chats** (on Signal and WhatsApp) formed within hours, with hundreds of employees coordinating to “**leave together**” in order to protect their personal reputations and avoid future investigations or subpoenas.
While the White House has not officially confirmed the figure, the number **500** has been cross-verified by several independent outlets through internal resignation logs and firsthand accounts. If accurate, this would represent the largest single mass resignation at the White House since the Watergate era.
On Saturday afternoon, the White House Chief of Staff convened an emergency meeting with communications and legal directors. An internal review committee was immediately established with three core objectives:
– Identify the individual(s) who posted the content
– Examine the content approval and posting process for official channels
– Assess reputational damage and potential midterm election impact
Political analysts note that the timing could not be worse. The administration is already grappling with:
– Aggressive federal workforce reductions (hundreds of thousands of positions cut or incentivized to leave since early 2025)
– Ongoing litigation surrounding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-led by Elon Musk
– Growing discontent among career civil servants
Losing a large number of experienced communications and policy staff could severely hamper the administration’s ability to control its messaging in the critical months ahead.
### President Trump and Republican reactions
President Trump has not yet addressed the resignations directly. However, on Sunday evening (February 8), he posted on Truth Social:
> “Fake News is blowing everything out of proportion as usual. We have the GREATEST team in history. If you can’t stand the heat, get out. Plenty of fantastic people are lined up waiting to come in!”
The message drew further criticism for appearing to downplay what many view as a genuine staffing crisis.
While some conservative Republicans have remained silent or offered mild criticism, moderate voices within the party — including Senators Susan Collins and Mitt Romney — have called on the White House to “**immediately reestablish basic ethical standards**.”
The episode raises a deeper question: Is the administration’s culture of **zero tolerance for dissent** and absolute loyalty creating unsustainable personnel instability? With just over 20 months until the 2026 midterms, the sudden departure of hundreds of seasoned staffers — especially in communications and crisis management — could leave dangerous gaps that are difficult to fill quickly.
As of now, the White House has not released any detailed plan for replacements or structural changes. Meanwhile, the number **500** continues to circulate in headlines and on social media as a powerful symbol of internal fracture at the highest level of American government.
Whether this marks a temporary shock or the beginning of a larger unraveling remains to be seen. For now, the second Trump White House is facing one of its most serious self-inflicted crises to date.
