Donald Trump declined to say sorry after a racist video involving Barack and Michelle Obama appeared on his social media account and was later taken down. He stood by his decision despite criticism over the post. Getty Images
Donald Trump refused to apologize on Friday after his social media account shared and later removed a racist video showing Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes in a jungle setting. Trump said he never saw the offensive ending and blamed a staff member for sharing the clip.
Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One and said he only watched the start of the video. He explained that the beginning focused on claims of election fraud and appeared harmless to him. He said a staffer shared the post after that, without checking the final seconds.
Trump Defends His Actions
“I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine,” Trump said. He added that the post strongly argued voter fraud and said no one noticed the offensive content at the end. Trump said the video came down once staff realized the problem.
When reporters asked if he would apologize, Trump answered clearly. “No,” he said. “I didn’t make a mistake.”
The video stayed online for nearly 12 hours after it appeared late Thursday night. The post caused anger across party lines, including criticism from some of Trump’s close allies.
Lawmakers Speak Out
Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, condemned the video and urged Trump to remove it. “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it,” Scott wrote.
Trump said he spoke with Scott Friday morning before the video disappeared from his account.
Several Republican lawmakers also spoke out. Mike Lawler called the post wrong and offensive and urged Trump to apologize. Nick LaLota echoed the call for removal.
White House Response Shifts
At first, the White House dismissed the criticism and described it as overblown. Later, officials said a staff member posted the video by mistake and removed it once discovered. Some advisers privately worked to distance Trump from the post.
Trump acknowledged that staff members help manage his account but said the responsibility fell on someone who failed to watch the full clip.
Content of the Video
The short video promoted false claims about the 2020 election. Near the end, it briefly showed images of the Obamas edited onto apes, while part of the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played. The imagery drew strong criticism for repeating racist stereotypes.
Growing Political Fallout
Roger Wicker and Pete Ricketts both called on Trump to apologize. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders responded sharply.
Hakeem Jeffries strongly condemned Trump in a social media video. Kamala Harris rejected the White House explanation and said no one believed the staffer excuse. Gavin Newsom also demanded that Republicans denounce the video.
A Pattern of Controversy
Trump has faced criticism before for sharing racist or false content online. He rarely deletes posts and almost never apologizes. Despite pressure from lawmakers in his own party, neither Trump nor the White House offered an apology for the video.
