Washington: US President Donald Trump refused to apologise on Friday, February 6, 2026, after deleting a controversial social media post that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates, drawing widespread condemnation from politicians, civil rights leaders and commentators across the political spectrum.
The video was shared on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social late Thursday night as part of a longer clip promoting his unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Near the end of the one-minute clip, imagery briefly showed the Obamas’ faces superimposed over apes in a jungle setting, evoking racist tropes that have wounded Black Americans for centuries.
While the post was later removed, the episode triggered a rare wave of bipartisan rebuke — including from prominent Republicans — but Trump maintained he would not apologise, insisting he “didn’t make a mistake”.
Backlash prompts swift deletion
The offensive portion of the video remained online for nearly 12 hours before being taken down amid intense criticism. Republican lawmakers including Senator Tim Scott — the only Black Republican in the Senate — called the imagery “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and urged Trump to remove the post. Other Republican colleagues, such as Senator Roger Wicker, also described it as unacceptable and inappropriate.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially defended the post, dismissing criticisms as “fake outrage” and claiming the video was simply an internet meme comparing Trump to the “King of the Jungle” and Democrats to characters from an animated film. But after mounting pressure, the White House acknowledged that a staffer had “erroneously made the post” and it was taken down.
Trump’s response to criticism
During an appearance on Air Force One on Friday evening, Trump said he had only watched the beginning of the video — which focused on election fraud claims — and had not seen the offensive ending before instructing it to be posted. He repeated the claim that it was a mistake by staff, and when pressed about apologising, he declined, asserting he “didn’t make a mistake” and emphasised the broader message of the video about alleged electoral fraud.
When asked whether he condemns the racist imagery, Trump said “of course I do,” but maintained that he would not issue an apology.
Historical context and wider reaction
The post came in the first week of Black History Month, adding to the sensitivity and controversy. Civil rights organisations, Democratic leaders and commentators highlighted the historical legacy of racist depictions of Black individuals as animals — a practice rooted in centuries-old efforts to dehumanise and marginalise Black people.
Former Vice-President Kamala Harris criticised the White House’s explanations, calling them a cover-up, while Democrats including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the imagery and demanded accountability. Civil rights groups such as the NAACP also called the post “utterly despicable” and offensive.
Supporters and some commentators emphasised free speech and meme culture but stopped short of defending the specific imagery, noting the broader context of political messaging and race relations in the United States.
Questions about social media oversight
The incident raised fresh questions about who controls and vets presidential social media content, given that Trump often uses his platforms for policy statements and public messaging. The White House has not provided details on vetting processes or clarified when Trump himself authorises posts.
An Obama spokeswoman said the former president has no comment on the matter.
Conclusion
While the offensive post was deleted after bipartisan criticism, President Trump’s refusal to apologise has intensified debates about racial sensitivity, political communication and the role of presidential social media. The confrontation underscores ongoing tensions over race, public discourse and political accountability in the United States.