Trump Stands Firm Amid Controversy Over Racist Video Featuring Obamas

President Donald Trump has doubled down on his stance regarding a video shared on his Truth Social account, which featured a racist image of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama depicted as apes. The post, which was deleted after approximately 12 hours, has sparked significant outrage.

During a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, Trump faced questions about the post. He asserted that he is the “least racist president you’ve had in a long time,” shifting the blame for the video onto his staff. “I looked at it. I saw it, and I just looked at the first part. It was about voter fraud,” he explained. “I guess during the end of it, there was some kind of picture that people don’t like, I wouldn’t like it either, but I didn’t see it.”

Trump claimed that the video was removed after a staff member reviewed it in its entirety. When pressed by reporters about calls from fellow Republicans for an apology, he remained defiant. “No, I didn't make a mistake. I mean, if I look at a lot of thousands of things, I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine,” he stated.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott expressed his dismay, stating he was “praying it was fake.” He described the video as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and urged Trump to take it down. Similarly, Senator Roger Wicker from Mississippi echoed this sentiment on social media, insisting that Trump “should take it down and apologize.”

Doug Heye, a Republican strategist, noted the unusual backlash from within the party, suggesting that the White House recognized the gravity of the situation. “They realized what a colossal screw-up this was,” he remarked, highlighting the rare pushback from elected Republicans.

When asked if he was concerned that sharing such a video could jeopardize his support among minority voters in 2024, Trump dismissed the notion. He claimed to have accomplished more for minority communities than any other president, citing criminal justice reform and funding for historically Black colleges and universities as key achievements. “And I am, by the way, the least racist president you’ve had in a long time,” he reiterated.

A reporter pointed out that Trump admitted to not watching the entire video before sharing it. The reporter drew parallels to Trump’s frequent criticisms of President Joe Biden for similar lapses in awareness. Trump interrupted, asserting his superior knowledge of Biden’s actions. “I know Biden a whole hell of a lot better than you do,” he snapped back.

The Obamas have generally refrained from responding to Trump’s provocations. However, Michelle Obama made a notable reference to Trump during her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. She remarked, “For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,” attributing his behavior to a narrow worldview that felt threatened by their success.

When directly asked if he condemns the racist elements of the video, Trump replied affirmatively: “Of course I do.” Yet when pressed for a message to those offended by the post, he stated simply, “I really have no message,” before pivoting to assert that the U.S. is currently the “hottest country anywhere in the world.”