Several Black conservatives aligned with President Donald Trump publicly rebuked the White House after a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes was briefly posted to Trump’s Truth Social account Thursday night.
The video was deleted Friday, and the White House said it was posted in error by a staffer. The incident drew bipartisan backlash and sparked rare public criticism from Trump allies during Black History Month.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the video “blatantly racist, disgusting, and utterly despicable.”
The Black Conservative Federation, a pro-Trump group with close ties to the president, also issued a sharp statement condemning the post as “unacceptable, offensive, and indefensible,” citing the historical use of such imagery to dehumanize Black Americans. The group said the content reflected a “serious lapse in judgment” that undermines trust with Black voters, while reaffirming support for Trump’s policy agenda.
Trump said he did not view the full video before it was posted and declined to apologize.
“I didn’t see it,” Trump told reporters. “I looked at the beginning of it, and it was really about voter fraud.” Asked whether he would apologize, he said, “No.” He added that he condemned the racist imagery.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage,” describing the clip as an internet meme. Later Friday, a White House official acknowledged that a staffer had mistakenly posted the video.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the longest-serving Black senator in U.S. history, publicly criticized the post, calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House” and urging its removal. Trump later said he spoke with Scott by phone and told him the post would be taken down.
Other Trump-aligned Black conservatives offered more forceful defenses. Conservative influencer CJ Pearson said the post was an error and did not change his view of Trump, adding that an “accidentally posted video” does not outweigh what he described as Trump’s record with Black voters.
Florida Rep. Byron Donalds’ gubernatorial campaign confirmed his team contacted the White House and was told a staffer was responsible. Turning Point USA leader Pierre Wilson said he would not have shared the video but argued the backlash was excessive.
The Obamas declined to comment.
The episode highlighted growing tension among Black conservatives who support Trump’s policies but face recurring controversies tied to race, messaging, and accountability — particularly during Black History Month.
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