Former United States President Donald Trump has firmly refused to issue an apology for sharing a controversial social media video that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The incident, which occurred on Friday, February 6, has sparked widespread condemnation and accusations of racism.
Trump's Defense and Explanation
Addressing reporters while aboard Air Force One, Trump stated emphatically, "I didn't make a mistake" when questioned about whether he would apologize for the post. He explained that he had only viewed the beginning of the 62-second video before it was posted by a staff member and was unaware that it contained the offensive depiction of the Obamas tacked onto the end.
"I look at a lot of thousands of things," Trump said, adding that after watching only part of the video, he "gave it to the people who generally, they look at the whole thing." He acknowledged that the video's message about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election appealed to him, but suggested that if his staff had reviewed the entire clip, "probably they would have had the sense to take it down." Trump confirmed, "We took it down as soon as we found out about it."
Initial White House Response and Backlash
Initially, the White House defended the video, describing it as an "internet meme video" and urging critics to "stop the fake outrage." However, following intense backlash from various quarters, including several Republican senators, the post was removed from Trump's Truth Social account. A White House official later stated that a staffer had "erroneously" made the post.
Republican Senator Tim Scott, who is black, strongly condemned the video, calling it "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House." The video has been criticized for recalling racist caricatures that historically compare black people to monkeys, a deeply offensive trope with roots in racial discrimination.
Wider Depictions in the Video
The controversial clip, set to the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," did not only target the Obamas. It also depicted several other high-profile Democrats as animals, including:
- New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Additionally, Trump's predecessor in the White House, Joe Biden, was portrayed as an ape eating a banana, further amplifying the offensive nature of the content.
Silence from the Obamas and Ongoing Controversy
As of now, Barack and Michelle Obama have not publicly commented on the video or Trump's refusal to apologize. The incident continues to fuel debates about racial sensitivity, social media responsibility, and political discourse in the United States. Trump's stance highlights a persistent divide in how such controversies are addressed by public figures, with his refusal to apologize standing in contrast to calls for accountability from critics and some within his own party.
