US President Donald Trump has firmly declined to issue any apology following the posting and subsequent deletion of a racist social media video that depicted former president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as primates in a jungle setting. The controversial clip, shared on Trump's Truth Social account on Thursday night, February 5, was removed by noon on Friday amid widespread backlash, but Trump later stated, "I didn't make a mistake."
White House Blames Staffer for Posting Error
In the aftermath of the video's deletion, the White House attributed the post to a staffer who acted in error, attempting to distance Trump from direct responsibility. This explanation came after press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed the outcry as "fake outrage," urging the media to focus on issues more relevant to the American public. However, veteran Republican senators and civil rights leaders have strongly criticised the video for its derogatory treatment of the nation's first black president and first lady, highlighting its offensive nature.
Video Content and Context
The 62-second video featured two jungle primates with the Obamas' smiling faces superimposed onto them, a segment that originated from a separate conservative meme video previously circulated online. This source material portrayed Trump as the "King of the Jungle" and depicted various Democratic leaders as animals, including Joe Biden as a primate eating a banana. Leavitt referenced Disney's 1994 film The Lion King in her defence, though that movie is set on a savannah and does not include great apes, adding to the controversy.
Trump commented to reporters while boarding Air Force One on Friday night, stating that the video was intended to focus on fraudulent election claims, a recurring theme in his rhetoric. "I liked the beginning. I saw it and just passed it on, and I guess probably nobody reviewed the end of it," he said. When pressed on whether he condemned the racist elements, Trump responded, "Of course I do."
Timing and Broader Implications
The video was posted during the first week of Black History Month, just days after Trump publicly acknowledged "the contributions of black Americans to our national greatness" and principles of liberty and equality. This timing has intensified criticism, as it contrasts sharply with his history of using incendiary and sometimes racist rhetoric against Obama, including promoting the false claim that Obama was not a native-born US citizen.
An Obama spokeswoman confirmed that the former president, a Democrat, had no response to the incident. Meanwhile, concerns are growing about who controls Trump's social media account, which is frequently used for policy announcements, levying import taxes, threatening military action, and intimidating political rivals. The White House has not provided immediate clarification on how posts are vetted or when the public can ascertain if Trump himself is posting, though he often signs policy-related messages with his name or initials.
Background of Election Claims
The video was part of overnight activity on Trump's Truth Social account that amplified his false assertions about the 2020 election being stolen, despite numerous court rulings and findings from his first-term attorney general revealing no evidence of systemic fraud. This context underscores the ongoing political tensions and the use of social media to propagate disputed narratives, further complicating the fallout from the racist video incident.
