Trump Deletes Controversial Obama Video After Backlash, Refuses to Apologize, Blames Staffer

photo credit: ABC News

President Donald Trump has deleted a controversial video posted on his Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, following widespread condemnation from civil rights groups and politicians across party lines. Despite the backlash, Trump has refused to apologise, instead blaming a staff member for the post.

The video, shared late Thursday, was largely compiled from a conservative clip promoting false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. In its final seconds, the footage included digitally altered images of two primates bearing the faces of the Obamas, an image that critics said echoed racist stereotypes historically used to dehumanise Black Americans.

Condemnation was swift and bipartisan. Civil rights organisations, Democratic leaders, and several Republicans described the imagery as offensive and unacceptable. The controversy intensified as the post circulated widely before it was eventually removed.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday night, Trump said he would not apologise, insisting he had done nothing wrong. He claimed he shared the video after watching only its opening portion and suggested the offensive imagery went unnoticed. “I saw it and just passed it on,” he said, adding that “probably nobody reviewed the end of it.”

The White House initially defended the post. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism as “fake outrage,” describing the video as a meme portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle” and Democrats as animal characters. The explanation drew further criticism, particularly as it referenced Disney’s The Lion King, a film that does not feature great apes.

Hours later, amid mounting pressure, the White House confirmed the video had been deleted and said it was posted in error by a staffer. The shift raised fresh questions about oversight of Trump’s social media accounts, which he frequently uses to communicate official positions and political messages.

Trump maintained that the video was intended to draw attention to his long-standing claims of election fraud-allegations that have been repeatedly rejected by courts, state officials, and members of his own previous administration.

The incident occurred during the first week of Black History Month, shortly after Trump issued a proclamation praising the contributions of Black Americans. A spokesperson for Obama said the former president had no comment on the matter.

Criticism continued to mount. Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the US Senate, described the post as deeply offensive and called for its removal. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi said the imagery was “totally unacceptable” and that an apology was warranted.

Leaders within the Black community also rejected the administration’s explanation. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke said the post reflected a broader culture of racism, while NAACP President Derrick Johnson described the video as “despicable” and accused Trump of attempting to distract from other political pressures.

The episode revived broader concerns about racially charged rhetoric in American politics. Critics noted that Obama faced similar racist depictions during his presidency, and said the latest incident underscored the persistence of such imagery in public discourse.

Despite continued calls for accountability, Trump has shown no indication of reversing his position, and no apology has been issued.