Trump Stands Firm on Controversial Obama Video Amid Racism Accusations
Former President Donald Trump has sparked widespread condemnation by refusing to apologise for sharing a video that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, with critics labelling it one of the most racist incidents to emerge from the White House. The minute-long clip, which has since been deleted, included a brief two-second shot showing the former President and First Lady portrayed as apes dancing in a jungle setting, accompanied by the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
White House Response and Trump's Defiance
A White House official attributed the post to a staff member who 'erroneously made the post', but Trump has adamantly declined to issue any apology. In a statement, he shifted responsibility, saying: 'I looked at it. I didn't see the whole thing. I gave it to the people, they posted it. What I saw in the beginning was really strong. It was about fraudulent elections. Anytime I see that stuff and it's credible, you put it up. I didn't do it. This was done by someone else. It was a re-truth but that was a very strong truth.'
Trump confirmed that the staffer responsible for posting the video will not face termination, and when directly asked if he would apologise, he responded: 'No, I didn't make a mistake.' He further lashed out at journalists who questioned his oversight, asserting: 'I know a hell of a lot better than you do. You don't know what's going on. I know what's going on.'
Political and Public Reaction
The video has drawn sharp criticism from political figures, including Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, who described it as 'the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House'. The clip originated from an X user named Xerias, who shared it on social media in October as part of a meme mocking Trump's rivals, such as Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, while depicting Trump as a lion on a hammock.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed to Metro that the video posted by Trump was the same one shared by Xerias. She defended the content, stating: 'This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.'
The incident highlights ongoing tensions over racial sensitivity and political discourse in the United States, with Trump's refusal to apologise underscoring his controversial approach to media and accountability.
