Trump Faces Backlash Over Offensive Video of Obamas on Social Media

White House officials are grappling with the fallout from a now-deleted video shared on Donald Trump’s Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in a racially insensitive manner. The brief clip, which was posted late on October 12, 2023, featured the Obamas’ faces superimposed on cartoon apes dancing to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The video was part of a larger narrative promoting conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election.

During a press briefing aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed he had only seen part of the video before delegating the task of posting it to an unnamed staffer. He stated, “No, I looked at the first part. It was really about voter fraud and the machines – how crooked it is, how disgusting it is.” Trump further mentioned that he would not fire the staffer responsible for the post and insisted he had not made a mistake. “Then I gave it to the people, generally they’d look at the whole thing but I guess somebody didn’t and they posted it. And then we deleted it,” he added.

The internal dynamics within the White House have been influenced by this incident, with speculation rising over whether Trump or aide Natalie Harp was ultimately responsible for the post. According to sources familiar with the situation, only Dan Scavino and Harp have access to Trump’s social media account. While Scavino has been busy with his new role managing the presidential personnel office, attention has turned toward Harp, a longtime Trump ally known for her close connection to the president.

The White House initially defended the post, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing criticism by stating, “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the king of the jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.” However, after backlash and the denouncement of the video as racist by Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, the administration retreated and attributed the error to a staffer.

Trump’s decision to delete the video marks a significant shift in his usual approach, as he has often stood by controversial statements. During a conversation with Scott, Trump acknowledged the mistake and committed to removing the video.

Harp, 35, has emerged as one of Trump’s most devoted aides since joining his 2024 re-election campaign. Known as the “Human Printer,” she travels with the president, providing him with hard copies of tweets and news articles. While she has played a vital role in relaying information to Trump, her judgment has come under scrutiny. In one instance, she reportedly sent an aggressive message to Trump megadonor Miriam Adelson, criticizing her $100 million Super PAC.

Despite concerns from other aides about Harp’s judgment and her close relationship with Trump, he has continually supported her, elevating her status within the administration. As of now, Trump’s advisers indicate that repercussions for the video incident appear unlikely, regardless of who was responsible for the post. The episode raises questions about accountability within the White House and the impact of social media on political discourse.