Trump Refuses to Apologise After Posting Racist Video of the Obamas on Social Media

U.S. President Donald Trump has declined to apologize for sharing a controversial video on his Truth Social account that included a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama portrayed as apes.

The brief image appeared near the end of a video that also repeated false claims about the 2020 presidential election and was widely condemned across the political spectrum.

The video clip was posted late Thursday night and remained online for nearly 12 hours before being deleted amid intense backlash from both Democrats and Republicans.

Several critics, including prominent lawmakers, described the imagery as deeply offensive and racist, particularly given the Obamas’ historic role as the first Black president and first lady in U.S. history. Some Republican figures publicly condemned the post as “the most racist thing” seen from the White House, prompting the unusual deletion of the clip.

When asked whether he would apologize for circulating the video, Trump said he had not seen the full content before it was shared and insisted he did not make a mistake.

He defended the broader intent of the post, which he said focused on questioning election integrity, and claimed he “condemns” the offensive portion while still refusing to offer an apology.

The White House initially attempted to downplay the controversy by framing the images as part of an internet meme, but later attributed the post to a staffer’s error after criticism mounted.

The incident renewed scrutiny over the administration’s use of social media and AI-generated imagery, and sparked debate about accountability, racial sensitivity in political discourse, and oversight of presidential platforms.

Sources: Reuters, ABC News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian