Trump Refuses to Apologize for Controversial Obama Meme

White House claims post was made in error, but Trump distances himself from incident.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Former US President Donald Trump has declined to apologize after a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes was posted to his Truth Social account. The White House claimed a staffer had made the post in error, but Trump distanced himself from the incident, saying he "didn't see it" and wouldn't apologize. The video was condemned by both Democrats and Republicans as racist and deeply offensive.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and divisions in US politics, with Trump's refusal to apologize for the controversial video seen by many as further inflaming racial tensions. It also raises questions about social media moderation and accountability for public figures who share offensive content.

The details

The AI-generated video was originally created by a pro-Trump meme account and remained online for nearly 12 hours before being taken down. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash as "fake outrage," while Trump said he "wouldn't like it either" but claimed he "didn't see it." Democratic and Republican lawmakers condemned the video, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling Trump a "vile, racist and malignant" figure.

  • The video was posted to Trump's Truth Social account on Thursday night.
  • The video remained online for nearly 12 hours before being taken down.

The players

Donald Trump

Former US President who refused to apologize for the controversial video depicting the Obamas as apes.

Barack Obama

Former US President who was depicted as an ape in the controversial video.

Michelle Obama

Former First Lady who was also depicted as an ape in the controversial video.

Hakeem Jeffries

House Minority Leader who accused Trump of posting the "disgusting video" deliberately and called him a "vile, racist and malignant" figure.

Tim Scott

Republican Senator who condemned the video as "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House."

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What they’re saying

“F*** Donald Trump and his vile, racist and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom-feeder.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader (Instagram)

“This is the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House.”

— Tim Scott, Republican Senator

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing racial tensions and divisiveness in US politics, with Trump's refusal to apologize for the controversial video seen by many as further exacerbating these issues. It also raises concerns about social media accountability and the need for public figures to be more mindful of the impact of their online actions.