Trump Shares Controversial Video, Blames Staffer

President says he didn't see full clip, declines to apologize

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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President Trump told reporters that he never saw the full video posted to his social media account late Thursday night, which included an animation depicting Barack and Michelle Obama with the bodies of apes. Trump said he watched only the beginning of the video, which dealt with claims about the 2020 election, before handing it off to staff for posting. The post went up at 11:44 p.m. ET and stayed live for about twelve hours before the White House pulled it down around noon Friday.

Why it matters

The president's social media account is a powerful platform, and the failure to properly vet content before posting raises concerns about the White House's vetting process and the president's oversight of his online presence. The incident has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, highlighting the divisive nature of the president's social media use.

The details

A White House official told ABC News that a "staffer erroneously made the post," while Trump told reporters he gave the video to his staff to post. The unnamed staffer has not been identified, and no one has explained what "erroneously" means in this context. The video had previously been shared by the Hardin County Republican Party in Kentucky, prompting an apology and a deletion after swift backlash.

  • The video was posted to Trump's social media account at 11:44 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 9, 2026.
  • The post was removed by the White House around noon on Friday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States at the time of the incident.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States, depicted in the controversial video.

Michelle Obama

The former First Lady of the United States, also depicted in the controversial video.

Tim Scott

The only Black Republican in the Senate and head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Roger Wicker

A senior Republican senator who publicly criticized the video.

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What they’re saying

“Praying it was fake because it's the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.”

— Tim Scott, U.S. Senator (X)

“This is totally unacceptable. The president should take it down and apologize.”

— Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator (N/A)

What’s next

The White House has not indicated any further actions or investigations into the incident. The focus remains on the president's response and the criticism from both parties.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for strict vetting and oversight of the president's social media presence, as a single misstep can have significant political and reputational consequences. It also underscores the divisive nature of the president's online behavior and the challenges in maintaining a disciplined and responsible social media strategy at the highest levels of government.