A video showing former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obamaâs faces superimposed onto the bodies of dancing primates was posted to the presidentâs Truth Social account on February 5, and was later removed after backlash. The White House said a staffer âerroneouslyâ posted it and that it was taken down several hours after appearing.
Sen. Tim Scott wrote on X that the post was âthe most racist thingâ he had seen from the White House and said the president should remove it. Sen. Katie Britt wrote on X that the content âshould have never been postedâ and that it was ânot who we are as a nation.â
CNN reported that the president complained to allies at Mar-a-Lago about Scott and used expletives about Britt, with one source saying he said she was âdeadâ to him. Brittâs office called the reporting âfake newsâ and emphasized her voting record with the president. The president told reporters he would not apologize, said he âdidnât make a mistake,â and stated the staffer has not been fired.