Trump Says He “Didn’t See” Racist Video Depicting Obamas as Apes Before Sharing Post

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is facing renewed backlash after a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes circulated online from an account associated with him. The video was later deleted, and Trump has said he “didn’t see” the content before it was shared.

The controversy erupted after a short video, widely condemned as racist, appeared on Trump’s social media feed. The clip used offensive imagery likening the Obamas to apes—a trope with a long and painful history of racist abuse. Screenshots of the post spread quickly across platforms before it was taken down, prompting immediate outrage from civil rights groups, Democratic leaders, and a number of Republicans.

Within hours, Trump’s team removed the video. Soon after, Trump addressed the incident, saying he had not watched the video before it was shared and was unaware of its content.

Trump’s response

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he “didn’t see” the video and suggested that the post was shared inadvertently. He denied endorsing racist imagery and blamed staff or automated sharing for the lapse.

“I would never knowingly share something like that,” Trump said, according to accounts of his remarks. He did not issue a direct apology to the Obamas but reiterated that the post was deleted once the issue was brought to his attention.

The explanation has done little to quiet critics, many of whom argue that the responsibility for content shared on an official account ultimately rests with Trump himself.

Strong condemnation

The reaction was swift and fierce. Civil rights organizations described the video as “blatantly racist” and said Trump’s explanation was inadequate.

“This isn’t a minor oversight,” said one advocacy group in a statement. “Racist imagery has real-world consequences, and public figures—especially those seeking office—have a duty to ensure they are not amplifying hate.”

Democratic leaders accused Trump of continuing a pattern of racially charged rhetoric. Some pointed to his past attacks on Barack Obama, including repeated questioning of Obama’s birthplace, as evidence that the incident fits into a broader history rather than being an isolated mistake.