WASHINGTON — President Trump deleted a video clip from his social media account depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, following widespread criticism from Democrats and some Republicans who deemed the post racist and urged its removal.
The White House initially defended the president’s post, characterizing it as “an internet meme video” and dismissing the criticism as “fake outrage.” However, as public condemnation grew, the administration shifted blame to an unnamed staff member.
“A White House staffer erroneously made the post. It has been taken down,” a White House official stated.
The video, which showed the Obamas’ faces superimposed onto apes in a jungle while “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played, was originally posted on Trump’s Truth Social account Thursday night. It appeared at the end of a one-minute video promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election.
Trump told reporters Friday evening that he recalled seeing the beginning of the video but not the portion featuring the Obamas as apes. He said he shared the video with his team for approval, and “I guess somebody” did not pay attention to the end of the clip.
When asked if he would apologize, the president stated, “I didn’t make a mistake.”
Initially, the White House described the clip as originating from “an internet meme video” that depicted Trump as a lion and several Democrats – including former President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Adam Schiff, and California Governor Gavin Newsom – as other animals. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King.”
Leavitt added, “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
However, the post quickly drew criticism from Democrats, civil rights organizations, and several Republicans. Senator Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina and chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, described the image as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
“The President should remove it,” Scott wrote on X.
Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) argued that the White House’s explanation of the post being merely a meme was insufficient, stating, “a reasonable person sees the racist context to this.” He called for the White House to remove the post and apologize.
Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) called the president’s post “totally unacceptable” and also urged him to take it down and apologize. Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said the president should apologize regardless of whether the post was “intentional or a mistake.” Representative French Hill (R-Ark.) expressed relief that the video was removed, stating, “racism and dehumanizing rhetoric have no place in our country.”
While Trump did not apologize, removing the post was an unusual step for a president who typically dismisses criticism regarding his rhetoric. The White House backtracked amid bipartisan condemnation.
Laura Loomer, a right-wing agitator, expressed anger at Republicans who condemned the post, calling on Scott to resign as head of the NRSC, arguing that someone willing to provide Democrats with such ammunition during an election year was “too stupid to be in charge.”
The NAACP wrote on X that Trump’s posting of the video – especially during Black History Month – was a “stark reminder of how Trump and his followers truly view people” and that they would “remember that in November.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the image “disgusting behavior by the president” and urged Republicans to denounce it. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Trump an “unhinged and malignant bottom feeder” and described the post as showing “disgusting bigotry.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the image “racist filth” and called on the White House to apologize, not just remove the post. California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff also denounced the post.
Following the removal of the post, Trump continued to post on his Truth Social account, addressing topics such as White House renovations and voter support for new election law changes.
The White House did not respond when asked how often staffers manage the president’s Truth Social account or identify the staff member responsible for the late-night post.
Newsom appeared skeptical of the White House’s claim that a staffer was responsible, posting on X, “WOW! WHITE HOUSE SAYS TRUMP DOESN’T WRITE HIS OWN TWEETS??? AUTOPEN!”
