Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama did not directly respond to President Donald Trump’s racist social media post that portrayed them as monkeys, but the couple shared a message of encouragement for American athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
“To all the athletes representing @TeamUSA: I am so proud of you,” Obama wrote on X on Feb. 6 as the 2026 Milano Cortina Games began.
“Your talent and perseverance have brought you to this moment, and Michelle and I will join Americans across the country in cheering you on.”
Racist video sparks backlash
The news came a day after a video shared on Trump’s Truth Social account sparked a wave of criticism. The clip, released late on February 5 and early on February 6, depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes in what appeared to be a jungle setting.
The short segment with the Obamas appears to have been created using artificial intelligence. It shows the faces of the former president and first lady superimposed on the bodies of apes.
Critics from across the political spectrum, including Republican lawmakers, condemned the video as racist.
The White House has given conflicting explanations
The White House initially dismissed the backlash, claiming the video was part of an Internet meme depicting Trump and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.
“Please stop this fake outrage,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the time.
However, the post was removed after about 12 hours. A White House official later said an unidentified staffer posted the video by mistake.
Tim Scott reacts: “The most racist thing I’ve seen”
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a close Trump ally and the only black Republican in the Senate, reacted strongly to the post.
“I was praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen in this White House,” Scott wrote.
Scott later demanded that the video be taken down, prompting Trump to call him out personally.
Trump: “I didn’t see the whole thing”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida on February 6, Trump insisted he had not seen the entire video before sharing it.
“I talked to Tim Scott. He was great. Tim is a great guy. He got it 100%,” Trump said.
“I didn’t see the whole thing,” he added. “I think there was an image at the end that people don’t like. I wouldn’t like it either.”
‘I liked the beginning’
Trump said he only watched the opening portion of the roughly minute-long video, which focused on claims of voter fraud.
“I liked the beginning,” Trump said. “I didn’t see it. I was watching the first episode.”
He claimed that the opening section discussed “voter fraud in some place, Georgia” and that he skimmed through it without reviewing the rest.
No apology from Trump
Despite calls from Republican lawmakers for an apology, Trump has refused.
“No, I didn’t make a mistake,” he said. “I mean, I’m looking at a lot—thousands of things. I was looking at the beginning, it was fine.”
When pressed on whether he condemned the racist images, Trump said, “Of course I do,” but maintained that he was not to blame.
Read also | Trump says he didn’t see full Obama meme, claims he missed attack