US President Donald Trump has spoken publicly after removing a controversial social media video that sparked widespread outrage for including a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The video, which was posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, ran for 62 seconds and largely focused on unproven claims of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election. However, the final segment of the clip featured an offensive and racially charged image portraying the Obamas as apes, set to the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight. The imagery quickly drew condemnation across the political spectrum once it went viral.
Addressing reporters on Friday, President Trump said he was unaware of the offensive content when the video was shared. He explained that he had only watched the opening portion before handing it over to his team for posting. “I just looked at the first part—then I gave it to my people,” Trump said. “Generally, they’d look at the whole thing, but I guess somebody didn’t. We took it down as soon as we found out about it.” He insisted, however, “I didn’t make a mistake.”
The post drew sharp criticism, including from within Trump’s own party. Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is Black, publicly called on the president to remove the video, describing it as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” Several other Republican lawmakers also expressed discomfort and concern as backlash mounted online and in Washington.
Initially, the White House pushed back against criticism, with officials dismissing the clip as an “internet meme video” and accusing critics of engaging in “fake outrage.” That response further fueled criticism, particularly as civil rights advocates and political figures called the imagery deeply offensive and unacceptable.
As pressure intensified, the video was ultimately taken down. A White House official later acknowledged that the post had been shared in error, stating that a staff member had “erroneously” uploaded the clip without fully reviewing its content.
As of now, Barack and Michelle Obama have not publicly commented on the video or Trump’s explanation. The incident has nonetheless reignited broader debates about race, political rhetoric, and accountability on social media—especially when content is amplified by those holding the highest offices in the country.
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