Trump Refuses to Apologize for Sharing Racist Video of the Obamas on Truth Social

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing widespread criticism after sharing a now-deleted video on Truth Social that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Trump, however, has refused to apologize, insisting he did not see the offensive content and blaming a staffer for the error.

The video, which circulated late Thursday and stayed online for nearly 12 hours, spliced images of the Obamas onto apes while promoting false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. It also featured a brief clip of the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The post sparked immediate outrage from both Democrats and some Republicans, forcing the White House into damage control.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he had only watched the beginning of the video, which focused on alleged election irregularities, and found it “fine.” He claimed that after viewing the first section, he passed the video to a staffer who should have seen the full content. “Somebody slipped and missed a very small part,” Trump said. When asked if he would apologize, he replied, “No. I didn’t make a mistake,” though he said he condemned the racist portion of the video.

The video drew criticism from GOP figures as well. Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, called the post racist and urged Trump to remove it. Several other Republican lawmakers, including Representatives Mike Lawler and Nick LaLota, joined in calling for the deletion of the video and an apology. White House allies initially defended the post, dismissing the backlash as “fake outrage,” but the clip was eventually taken down, and the staffer responsible was blamed.

The controversy highlights Trump’s controversial history with social media, where he often posts or reposts content that draws criticism. In recent years, he has shared digitally altered videos targeting political opponents, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, as well as unfounded election-related claims. Analysts note that Trump rarely deletes posts or apologizes for offensive content, making this incident unusual in his social media history.

The Obamas have not publicly commented on the video. Meanwhile, Democrats and several state leaders condemned the post as racist, with calls for all Republicans to denounce it. This episode adds to ongoing concerns about the spread of offensive and misleading content on social media platforms, especially those affiliated with high-profile political figures.