United States President Donald Trump stated that he made no mistake in sharing a video on his Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Trump made these comments to reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday.
The video, which briefly appeared on Trump's official account, promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election loss. It featured the Obamas' faces superimposed on monkeys' bodies for about one second, accompanied by the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
The clip also included other animals with faces of prominent Democrats, such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Trump emphasized his position, saying he did not need to apologize for the post. Critics condemned the video as racist, with figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom describing Trump as a "vile, unhinged and malignant bottom feeder." The incident drew widespread backlash on social media and from political opponents.
The administration maintains that the sharing aligned with Trump's communication style and focus on election integrity issues.