US President Donald Trump has claimed he 'didn't see' the racist segment of a social media video that portrayed Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. This was part of Trump’s explanation following backlash over a video he shared that included claims about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Trump said he reviewed only the beginning of the video, which was later removed from his social media account. The video's depiction has been condemned across the political spectrum, including by some Republicans.
Republican Senator Tim Scott labeled the clip as 'the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House,' while other GOP figures called for immediate action against the post. Trump defended the video as an 'internet meme' but acknowledged it was always maintained by staff members who 'erred' in its posting. The incident raises questions about content management within his administration, particularly regarding the standards applied to social media communications.
The video, criticized for its racist undertones, was reportedly inspired by a post from a conservative meme creator and also depicted other prominent Democrats in similar derogatory manners. Upon its removal, the White House initially defended it before issuing a statement of regret for the oversight, expressing that it was an unintended consequence of posting hurried content. Critics insist that such content should never have been posted in the first place, highlighting the troubling implications of such representations.
Republican Senator Tim Scott labeled the clip as 'the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House,' while other GOP figures called for immediate action against the post. Trump defended the video as an 'internet meme' but acknowledged it was always maintained by staff members who 'erred' in its posting. The incident raises questions about content management within his administration, particularly regarding the standards applied to social media communications.
The video, criticized for its racist undertones, was reportedly inspired by a post from a conservative meme creator and also depicted other prominent Democrats in similar derogatory manners. Upon its removal, the White House initially defended it before issuing a statement of regret for the oversight, expressing that it was an unintended consequence of posting hurried content. Critics insist that such content should never have been posted in the first place, highlighting the troubling implications of such representations.
