SUMMARY
- A Trump racist social media post was removed after roughly twelve hours amid growing bipartisan criticism.
- The White House said a staffer posted the video in error and offered no apology.
- The episode has renewed debate about accountability and racial rhetoric in US politics.
President Donald Trump faced bipartisan criticism after a Trump racist social media post depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as primates circulated on his social platform Thursday night.
Prompting condemnation from civil rights groups, Republican lawmakers and historians during the first week of Black History Month.
The Trump racist social media post quickly became a flashpoint in Washington, drawing attention not only to the imagery itself but also to the administration’s handling of the backlash.
The White House initially dismissed the criticism before deleting the post Friday afternoon, a response that intensified scrutiny from both supporters and critics of the president.
Depicting Black people as apes has long been documented by historians as a dehumanizing racist trope used to justify discrimination and violence.
The video reposted from the president’s account showed the Obamas as primates, according to screenshots circulated by media outlets and advocacy organizations.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the post referenced “The Lion King” and described the reaction as “fake outrage.”
Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina later wrote on X that the post was “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
By midday Friday, the post was deleted. In a statement to MSNBC, the administration said a staffer “erroneously made the post.” Trump later told reporters he did not plan to apologize.
Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a historian of race and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, said such imagery carries a weight that cannot be separated from its history.
He said depictions comparing Black Americans to animals have been used for centuries to deny equal citizenship.
Sarah Binder, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the political impact extends beyond the post itself.
She said the response from party leaders signals how much tolerance exists for racially charged rhetoric within governing institutions.
The Trump racist social media post also revived attention to earlier controversies in Trump’s career.
Including his promotion of false claims about Obama’s birthplace and his past comments about the Central Park Five, who were later exonerated.
Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, said the post caused widespread distress among Black Americans who view such imagery as psychological harm. He said deleting the post without acknowledgment does not address its impact.
Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele said the controversy places additional pressure on party leaders to define boundaries around acceptable discourse.
He said silence or deflection risks normalizing conduct that alienates voters.
Civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill said the timing during Black History Month amplified the reaction, noting that symbolism matters when it comes from the president’s account.
Congressional leaders have not announced formal action related to the Trump racist social media post.
Lawmakers from both parties said they would continue to address standards of conduct through public statements rather than legislative measures.
The White House has not indicated any policy changes regarding social media oversight.
The episode underscores enduring tensions around race, power and accountability in American politics.
While the post was removed, its circulation and the official response have added to a broader record that continues to shape public trust in national leadership.
NOTE! This article was generated with the support of AI and compiled by professionals from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage. For more information, please see our T&C.
