President Deflects Apology Calls for Obama Video During Air Force One Exchange
President Donald Trump has declined to apologize for sharing a video featuring former President Barack Obama and the former First Lady that has been widely condemned as racist.
Despite a surge of backlash, the President has remained defiant regarding the controversial social media post.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Palm Beach on February 6, the President claimed he had not seen the video in its entirety.
He suggested a staffer likely failed to review it properly, noting that the content was removed as soon as the issue was identified.
When asked by press if he would apologize, the President stated: “No I didn’t make a mistake.”
The post, which appeared on Truth Social, pushed debunked claims regarding the 2020 election.
However, it took a sharp, derogatory turn in its closing moments, depicting the Obamas’ faces onto cartoon apes while “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played in the background.
Leaders from both parties have condemned the video shared by the President, many acknowledging the historical context of dehumanization of Black people in America utilizing imagery.
