Trump Refuses To Apologize For Ape Video Of Obamas |

President Donald Trump is doubling down amid bipartisan backlash for posting a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. While the late Thursday evening video has since been eliminated, Trump insists he didn’t view the complete clip earlier than it was shared and has declined to apologize.

Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty

What Trump Told Reporters About The Video

According to ABC News, Trump addressed the controversy Friday night whereas talking with reporters aboard Air Force One. He claimed he solely watched the start of the video, which targeted on debunked claims about voter fraud tied to the 2020 election, and didn’t see the racist imagery that appeared on the finish.

“I suppose in the course of the finish of it, there was some form of image individuals don’t like. I wouldn’t prefer it both, however I didn’t see it,” Trump mentioned. “I simply, I regarded on the first half, and it was actually about voter fraud.”

ABC News reports that the video abruptly cuts to imagery exhibiting the Obamas’ faces positioned on the our bodies of apes, accompanied by the music The Lion Sleeps Tonight, earlier than returning to election conspiracy footage. The put up went reside at roughly 11:44 p.m. ET on Thursday and was taken down by noon Friday following widespread criticism.

When requested whether or not he would apologize, Trump declined.

“No, I didn’t make a mistake,” he mentioned, including that he opinions “1000’s of issues” and located the start of the video “effective.” However, when pressed on whether or not he condemned the racist imagery itself, Trump responded, “Of course I do.”

White House Response And Lawmaker Condemnation

ABC News states that the White House initially defended the put up. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash in an early assertion, characterizing the video as an web meme and accusing critics of “pretend outrage.” Later Friday, a White House official advised ABC News {that a} staffer had “erroneously made the put up,” marking a shift within the administration’s response.

Lawmakers from each events condemned the video. Republican Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, known as the put up “essentially the most racist factor I’ve seen out of this White House” and urged Trump to take away it. Trump later confirmed he spoke with Scott by cellphone, telling him the put up was a mistake and can be taken down.

Democratic leaders had been extra direct. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended the Obamas as “sensible, compassionate and patriotic Americans,” whereas Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the imagery as “racist,” “vile,” and “abhorrent,” calling for an apology.

ABC News states that the Obamas declined to remark when contacted and later shared unrelated posts wishing Team USA luck on the Winter Olympics.

Cultural Context

Whether Trump watched the complete video, he reposted it. Previously reported by BOSSIP, the AI-generated video made it onto Trump’s Truth Social account beneath the guise of highlighting alleged voting machine “anomalies.”

Embedded inside that content material was imagery depicting the Obamas as apes, a racist trope historically used to dehumanize Black people and reinforce white supremacist ideology. It’s not “only a meme.”

Is this his “Great America?”

The White House’s preliminary response was not accountability, however dismissal. The administration waved off criticism as inconsequential and labeled public outrage as “pretend” earlier than pivoting in charge a staffer amid mounting backlash. Then, attempting to cross it off as a Lion King reference?

Seems like the eye span or to element shouldn’t be there.

Again, why does such imagery proceed to flow into unchecked in political areas?

Going Forward

As the controversy continues, this raises bigger questions on duty within the digital age. Why is the Trump administration so snug utilizing pretend, insensitive and incorrect AI movies? Remember the “Y.N.” controversy?

The normalization of racist symbolism in political messaging is changing into more durable to swallow, with the hurt being each seen and traditionally rooted.