Trump posted a racist video depicting a former first couple as dancing apes, deleted it hours later, then refused to apologize while blaming an unnamed staffer—a sequence of events that exposes the fractured state of presidential accountability and the weaponization of racist imagery in American politics.
Story Snapshot
- Trump’s Truth Social account posted a 62-second video at 11:44 p.m. on February 5, 2026, ending with Barack and Michelle Obama’s faces superimposed on ape bodies
- The White House deleted the post Friday morning, calling it a “staffer error,” but Trump refused to apologize, stating “I didn’t make a mistake”
- Bipartisan condemnation followed, with Republican Sen. Tim Scott calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House”
- Trump claimed he only viewed the election fraud portion of the video before passing it to staff, despite the racist ending appearing seconds later
- The Obamas made no direct response, maintaining public silence on the incident
The Video That Sparked National Outrage
The video began with familiar territory for Trump supporters: unsubstantiated claims about 2020 election fraud, the kind of content that cost affiliated parties a $787 million Dominion Voting Systems settlement in 2023. For 50 seconds, it recycled debunked conspiracy theories about voting machines and ballot tampering. Then, at the conclusion, the content shifted abruptly to an animation sequence featuring the faces of Barack and Michelle Obama digitally placed onto dancing ape bodies, set to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” from The Lion King. The juxtaposition was jarring and unmistakably racist, invoking centuries-old dehumanizing stereotypes rooted in slavery-era propaganda and 19th-century pseudoscience designed to justify racial oppression.
Presidential Deflection and the Staffer Scapegoat
Trump’s response aboard Air Force One Friday afternoon revealed a calculated defense strategy. He condemned the racist imagery when pressed by reporters, stating “Of course I do,” but immediately distanced himself from responsibility. Trump claimed he reviewed the video’s election fraud content, approved it, then handed it off to “the people” for posting—suggesting he never witnessed the final seconds containing the Obama depiction. When asked if he would apologize, his answer was blunt: “No, I didn’t make a mistake.” The White House reinforced this narrative with a terse statement blaming an unnamed staffer who “erroneously made the post.” This explanation fits a documented pattern where inflammatory content appears on Trump’s accounts, generates backlash, then gets attributed to subordinates who conveniently remain unidentified and face no disclosed consequences.
Bipartisan Rebukes Expose Republican Fractures
The backlash cut across party lines with unusual speed. Senator Tim Scott, a prominent Black Republican and Trump ally, delivered one of the sharpest rebukes, labeling the video “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and demanding its removal before speaking with Trump by phone Friday evening. Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi called it “totally unacceptable,” while Democrats piled on with predictable fury. Governor Gavin Newsom termed it “disgusting,” Representative Hakeem Jeffries called Trump “vile,” and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded a formal apology. Ben Rhodes, former Obama adviser, predicted the incident would “haunt Trump” and remain “a stain on our history.” The Obamas themselves remained conspicuously silent, posting only an unrelated message about the Olympics, perhaps calculating that dignifying the attack with a response would only amplify its reach.
The Dangerous Normalcy of Racist Imagery
Depicting Black individuals as apes or monkeys carries specific historical weight in America. This wasn’t a careless meme or an ambiguous dog whistle—it was explicit dehumanization drawn from a playbook used to justify slavery, segregation, and violence against Black Americans for generations. The tactic resurfaces periodically in attacks on Black political figures, designed to strip them of humanity and legitimacy. Trump’s history with racial controversy stretches back decades, from his birtherism campaign questioning Obama’s citizenship to housing discrimination lawsuits in the 1970s. This incident, however, stands apart in its brazenness: a sitting president’s official social media account broadcasting unmistakably racist content, then retreating behind procedural excuses rather than moral accountability. The staffer excuse rings hollow when the video required active approval before posting, according to Trump’s own admission that he handed it to staff for publication.
Truth Social and the Content Moderation Vacuum
The incident shines harsh light on Truth Social’s governance. Launched after Trump’s bans from mainstream platforms following January 6, Truth Social operates with minimal content moderation compared to competitors. The platform’s structure gives Trump unparalleled control over messaging without the corporate oversight that previously curtailed his posts. This case demonstrates the risks: a video containing election misinformation and racist imagery stayed live for roughly twelve hours overnight before deletion, reaching thousands before the White House intervened. The lack of internal review processes or accountability measures means similar content could appear again with the same blame-shifting playbook. Trump’s dual role as president and platform owner creates conflicts of interest where political messaging, personal branding, and official communication blur beyond recognition, leaving the public to parse what represents genuine policy versus inflammatory distraction.
Trump refuses to apologize for posting video of Obamas as apes https://t.co/piNlAo7NcZ via @YouTube
— Alan B. MacFarlane (@sumbuddie2sea) February 7, 2026
The Political Calculus of Refusing Apology
Trump’s refusal to apologize reflects strategic calculation rather than mere stubbornness. Apologizing would validate critics’ claims of racism and undermine his base’s perception of him as unfairly persecuted by political correctness. By condemning the content while denying personal fault, Trump attempts to thread a needle: appearing reasonable to moderates while signaling to core supporters that he won’t bow to “cancel culture.” The staffer excuse provides plausible deniability without requiring genuine contrition. This approach banks on short public memory and partisan media ecosystems that will either ignore the story or frame it as overblown liberal outrage. The GOP’s muted response beyond Scott and Wicker suggests most Republicans prefer to let the controversy fade rather than force a confrontation with their party’s dominant figure, even when the offense involves unambiguous racist imagery targeting a beloved former president and first lady.
Sources:
Trump shares video that includes racist depiction of Obamas, sparking outrage – ABC News