• Trump’s video depicting the Obamas as apes sparks outrage across the political spectrum.
• Bipartisan reactions include condemnation from Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Tim Scott.
• White House initially dismissed outrage but later blamed a staffer for the post.
• Trump refuses to apologize, saying he was unaware of the offensive content before posting.
• The incident raises concerns over race and representation during Black History Month.

U.S. President Donald Trump shared a video on his Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys, igniting backlash from both sides of the political aisle. The short clip was part of a longer video reiterating unfounded claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Critics noted the imagery has historically been associated with racist stereotypes used to dehumanize Black individuals, making the timing particularly sensitive as it surfaced during Black History Month, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

Following the video's release, there was immediate condemnation from prominent Democrats and some Republicans. Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, called the video "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House" and urged Trump to remove it, according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.

Despite the backlash, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed the outrage as "fake" and referred to the video as an "internet meme." She later stated that a staffer mistakenly posted the video without reviewing it completely, according to BBC and Los Angeles Times.

Trump himself later faced questions about the video while aboard Air Force One, where he stated he had only seen the beginning, which focused on voter fraud, and did not recognize the offensive content. He declined to apologize for the post, further noting, "I didn’t make a mistake," according to Anadolu Agency and India Times.

The video was ultimately taken down after approximately 12 hours, following growing pressure not only from Democrats but also within Trump's own party, including comments labeling the content as “disgusting” and “offensive,” with some urging immediate action from the President, as reported by Le Monde and India Times.