President Donald Trump’s official Truth Social account on Friday morning deleted a video that portrayed former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, after the post drew swift condemnation from Republicans and Democrats alike.
The clip, shared late Thursday from Trump’s official account, was embedded in a broader video promoting a conspiracy theory about voting machines in the 2020 election. The post remained online for roughly 12 hours before it was removed.
Speaking to reporters later Friday during a gaggle aboard Air Force One, Trump said he would not apologize.
“I didn’t make a mistake,” he said.
Trump also suggested he did not watch the entire video before it was shared.
“I didn’t see the whole thing,” Trump said. “I looked at the first part, and it was really about voter fraud in the machines, how crooked it is, how disgusting it is. Then I gave it to the people. Generally, they look at the whole thing. But I guess somebody didn’t.“
When asked whether he condemned the video, Trump replied: “Of course I do.”
White House response shifts as post comes down
Initially, the White House defended the post. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an emailed statement Friday morning that the video was “from an internet meme” and criticized what she called “fake outrage.”
“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 said.
“Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public,” she added.
Hours later, the video was deleted from Trump’s Truth Social account.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the video had been posted in error by a staffer and was subsequently taken down. The White House did not immediately respond to follow-up questions about which staffer posted it or how frequently staff handle publishing on the president’s official accounts.
A source familiar with the matter later said Trump “had not seen that video before it was posted.”
“As soon as he found out, he ordered it taken down,” the source added.
Leavitt’s initial reply included a link to a longer video posted Oct. 24 from a pro-Trump meme account on X.
Wider video targets other Democrats as animals
Beyond the depiction of the Obamas as apes, the longer version shows other animals with the faces of prominent Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In the video, Trump is portrayed as a lion while “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens plays in the background.
The Obama Foundation did not respond to a request for comment.
GOP criticism breaks through
Some Republicans publicly condemned the post, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a close Trump ally.
“Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott wrote on X, adding: “The President should remove it.”
Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican viewed as vulnerable in November’s election, also criticized the post.
“The President’s post is wrong and incredibly offensive — whether intentional or a mistake — and should be deleted immediately with an apology offered,” Lawler wrote on X.
“Patriot News Outlet” watermark, unclear origins
The video Trump reposted carried the watermark of a group calling itself Patriot News Outlet. When contacted for comment, the group denied knowledge of any Trump post tied to it.
“We fully unaware of anything that President Trump might have posted including any video claiming to be from Patriot News Outlet. I cannot comment or any your questions for this reason [sic],” the group said, also asking for a link or copy of the video.
Democrats and civil rights groups urge broader denunciation
Trump’s political opponents may try to make the post an issue ahead of November’s midterm election, though it is still nine months away. At the same time, Republican lawmakers have voiced concern about whether they can maintain slim majorities in both the House and Senate.
The NAACP said on X: “Trump posting this video — especially during Black History Month— is a stark reminder of how Trump and his followers truly view people. And we’ll remember that in November.”
Democratic officials quickly demanded that Republican leaders condemn the post.
“President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, compassionate and patriotic Americans,” Jeffries wrote on X. “They represent the best of this country. Donald Trump is a vile, unhinged and malignant bottom feeder.”
“Why are GOP leaders like John Thune continuing to stand by this sick individual? Every single Republican must immediately denounce Donald Trump’s disgusting bigotry,” Jeffries added, referring to the Senate majority leader.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office, another target of the video, wrote on X: “Disgusting behavior by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now.”
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois also weighed in, writing on X: “This kind of Jim Crow-style dehumanization is pathetic and a disgrace to the office.”
