Donald Trump has declined to apologise for a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, which was posted on his Truth Social account and later deleted. The president claimed he only saw part of the video before handing it to an unidentified staffer to post, and said he would not fire the employee because he did not make a mistake.
The clip, shared late Thursday night, showed the Obamas' faces superimposed on cartoon apes dancing to The Lion Sleeps Tonight, alongside conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. The White House initially dismissed criticism, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it an internet meme and urging an end to 'fake outrage'. However, the administration later backtracked, blaming a staffer for erroneously posting the video.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: 'No, I looked at the first part. It was really about voter fraud and the machines – how crooked it is, how disgusting it is. Then I gave it to the people, generally they’d look at the whole thing but I guess somebody didn’t and they posted it. And then we deleted it.'
Speculation has centred on aide Natalie Harp, known as 'Human Printer' for her habit of printing tweets and articles for Trump. Only two aides have access to his social media account: Harp and Dan Scavino, though Scavino is reportedly preoccupied with his new role. Harp has previously been criticised for poor judgment, including sending an aggressive text to a major donor.
In a call with Republican Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, Trump reportedly blamed a staffer and said he would remove the video. The deletion marks a rare reversal for Trump, who typically stands by provocative statements. Despite the controversy, advisers suggested there would be no repercussions for Harp, who remains a loyal aide.
