‘I Didn’t Make A Mistake’ — President Trump Declines To Apologize For Racist Video Portraying The Obamas As Apes
✍️ By Teju/ February 7, 2026/ 8:01am
President Donald Trump has declined to apologise following the circulation and subsequent removal of a controversial video shared by the White House that portrayed former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama using racially offensive imagery.
Responding to questions about the incident, Trump said he did not believe he made an error, explaining that he only viewed the opening portion of the video before it was shared publicly. According to him, the section he reviewed focused on allegations of voter fraud and election integrity, and he was unaware that the video later contained imagery widely condemned as racist.
Trump stated that the post was shared by staff members and was taken down immediately after the offensive content was identified. However, when asked whether an apology would be issued, he rejected the idea, maintaining that he did not intentionally approve the full video.
The video sparked widespread backlash online, with critics describing the imagery as dehumanising and racially charged. The incident has reignited conversations around racism in political messaging, accountability within government communication teams, and standards for official public communication.
