Trump Says He ‘Didn’t See’ Racist Clip of Obamas in Viral Video Amid Widespread Backlash
President refuses to apologise for posting and deleting a social media video featuring offensive imagery of Barack and Michelle Obama
President Donald Trump addressed a growing political controversy on Friday after a video posted on his social media account included a brief but offensive clip depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had seen only the beginning of the video, which promoted debunked claims about alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election, and had not watched the section containing the objectionable imagery.
“I just looked at the first part,” Trump said, adding that he “didn’t see the whole thing” and that the part including the former president and first lady was something “people don’t like.” He went on to state that he would not apologise, asserting he “didn’t make a mistake” and placing responsibility for the full posting on aides who managed his social media account.
The clip was shared on Trump’s Truth Social account late Thursday night and remained online for approximately twelve hours before being deleted.
The White House first defended the post through its press secretary, framing it as an “internet meme” that portrayed Trump as “King of the Jungle” and various Democratic figures as characters from a cartoon.
After sustained bipartisan criticism, including from Republican Senator Tim Scott who described the imagery as deeply offensive and called for its removal, a White House official said that a member of staff had “erroneously made the post.” Trump maintained that he condemned the racist portion of the video but insisted that his initial review focused solely on the segment about election integrity.
Lawmakers from both parties quickly denounced the video.
Several Republican members of Congress urged Trump to delete it and issue an apology, with some describing the depiction as unacceptable.
Democratic leaders echoed that sentiment, denouncing the footage’s racial undertones and calling on elected officials to condemn it.
Despite the backlash, Trump stood by his account of events, reiterating that he had not viewed the entirety of the content before it was posted by aides, and affirming his broader record and intentions.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had seen only the beginning of the video, which promoted debunked claims about alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election, and had not watched the section containing the objectionable imagery.
“I just looked at the first part,” Trump said, adding that he “didn’t see the whole thing” and that the part including the former president and first lady was something “people don’t like.” He went on to state that he would not apologise, asserting he “didn’t make a mistake” and placing responsibility for the full posting on aides who managed his social media account.
The clip was shared on Trump’s Truth Social account late Thursday night and remained online for approximately twelve hours before being deleted.
The White House first defended the post through its press secretary, framing it as an “internet meme” that portrayed Trump as “King of the Jungle” and various Democratic figures as characters from a cartoon.
After sustained bipartisan criticism, including from Republican Senator Tim Scott who described the imagery as deeply offensive and called for its removal, a White House official said that a member of staff had “erroneously made the post.” Trump maintained that he condemned the racist portion of the video but insisted that his initial review focused solely on the segment about election integrity.
Lawmakers from both parties quickly denounced the video.
Several Republican members of Congress urged Trump to delete it and issue an apology, with some describing the depiction as unacceptable.
Democratic leaders echoed that sentiment, denouncing the footage’s racial undertones and calling on elected officials to condemn it.
Despite the backlash, Trump stood by his account of events, reiterating that he had not viewed the entirety of the content before it was posted by aides, and affirming his broader record and intentions.
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