After a video from President Trump’s social media account depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as primates, the post was deleted, and a staffer was blamed, but Trump defended it and refused to apologize.
“I didn’t make a mistake,” Trump told reporters Friday.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to downplay the controversy. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public,” she said, calling the clip part of an internet meme.
Even so, some Republicans spoke out against the post, breaking the usual silence. Trump allies maintained that the president had not seen the full video before sharing it, placing responsibility entirely on the staffer.
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Trump’s own words, however, told a different story.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, he said the video focused on election fraud and admitted he only watched part of it before reposting. “I liked the beginning,” Trump said. “I saw it and just passed it on.”
Asked whether he condemned the imagery, Trump replied, “Of course I do,” while still refusing to apologize.
NOW — President Trump Responds to the Viral Obama Clip
“I just looked at the first part … then I gave it to [my] people. Generally, they’d look at the whole thing, but I guess somebody didn’t … We took it down as soon as we found out about it.”
pic.twitter.com/501DNmukzR— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) February 7, 2026
The post appeared during a late-night burst of activity on Trump’s account that also pushed false claims about the 2020 election. Courts and Trump’s own former attorney general have repeatedly said there was no widespread fraud.
Coming in the first week of Black History Month, just after Trump highlighted the achievements of Black Americans, the clip caused an immediate stir.
Civil rights leaders condemned the imagery. Some Republicans broke their usual silence. Sen. Tim Scott, one of Trump’s closest allies and the Senate’s only Black Republican, urged the White House to take the post down.
“Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott said.
The former president and first lady offered no comment, but the response outside the capital was much harsher.
At a Black History Month market in Harlem, vendor Jacklyn Monk said, “The guy needs help. I’m sorry he’s representing our country. … It’s horrible that it was this month, but it would be horrible if it was in March also.” In Atlanta, Rev. Bernice King spoke out, saying, “Yes. I’m Black. I’m proud of it. I’m Black and beautiful.” She added, “We are not apes.”
Trump allies scrambled to contain the fallout. Pastor Mark Burns said he urged Trump to fire the staffer and publicly condemn what happened.
Democrats were not convinced. Rep. Yvette Clarke said, “If there wasn’t a climate, a toxic and racist climate within the White House, we wouldn’t see this type of behavior regardless of who it’s coming from.” She added that Trump “is a racist, he’s a bigot, and he will continue to do things in his presidency to make that known.”
Featured image via X screengrab
