Washington, DC — President Donald Trump said he did not make a mistake after a video shared on his Truth Social account depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, a post that sparked widespread backlash before being removed hours later.
The video, which focused largely on debunked claims about voter fraud and the 2020 election, included a brief clip near the end showing the Obamas portrayed as apes set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The imagery drew condemnation across the political spectrum and was widely described as racist.
Initially, the White House defended the post, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the backlash “fake outrage” and describing the clip as part of a broader internet meme referencing The Lion King. Roughly 12 hours later, the video was deleted. A White House official said a staff member had “erroneously” shared it.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he condemned the racist portion of the video but declined to apologize. “No, I didn’t make a mistake,” Trump said, adding that he had only watched the beginning of the video before it was posted. He said responsibility fell to staff who failed to review the full clip before sharing it.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, denounced the video and urged Republicans to condemn it. Former Vice President Kamala Harris said the White House explanation lacked credibility, noting the administration initially defended the post.
As of publication, Trump had not indicated whether disciplinary action would be taken against the staff member involved.
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