Trump stated he had seen only the beginning of the video and had not known it contained that depiction of the Obamas. 'I didn’t make a mistake,' he insisted during a press conference aboard Air Force One, adding, 'We took it down as soon as we found out about it.'
Republican Senator Tim Scott labeled it 'the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House.' Criticism was widespread, with fellow Republicans also denouncing the video, reflecting a party split on race-related issues. The White House at first defended the clip as an 'internet meme video' but later retracted that statement, explaining that a staff member had 'erroneously' posted it.
Backlash continued even after the video was taken down, with various leaders, including former Obama officials, condemning Trump's actions. This incident highlights the persistent racial tensions in American politics and Trump's long history of racially charged statements.
