Manny Ita –
The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus said President Donald Trump’s decision to share a social media post depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as primates reflected a “bigoted and racist regime,” rejecting White House explanations that the incident was the result of a staff error.
The video was posted to Trump’s social media account and remained online for roughly 12 hours before being deleted following widespread backlash. Initial White House responses dismissed criticism as “fake outrage,” then said the post had been removed because it was shared by a staff member. Trump later told reporters that he did not make a mistake and insisted that no one noticed the portion of the video portraying the Obamas in a racist manner before it was posted.
Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York, who leads the caucus of more than 60 Black House and Senate members, said she found that explanation unconvincing. “It’s very clear that there was an intent to harm people, to hurt people, with this video,” Clarke said in an interview with The Associated Press hours after the post was deleted. “As my mother would say, ‘Too late. Mercy’s gone.’”
Clarke said the incident fit a broader pattern. “We’re dealing with a bigoted and racist regime,” she said. “Every week we are, as the American people, put in a position where we have to respond to something very cruel or something extremely off-putting that this administration does. It’s a part of their M.O. at this point.”
Asked whether she believed the White House claim that an aide was responsible, Clarke said, “They don’t tell the truth. If there wasn’t a climate, a toxic and racist climate within the White House, we wouldn’t see this type of behavior regardless of who it’s coming from.”
She noted that the incident occurred as the country marks major anniversaries. “Here we are, in the year 2026, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the 100th anniversary of the commemoration of Black history, and this is what comes out of the White House on a Friday morning,” Clarke said. “It’s beneath all of us.”
Clarke said there had been no outreach from the White House to the Congressional Black Caucus following the incident. “There has been no outreach from the White House. We certainly didn’t expect there to be,” she said. “The outreach has to happen prior to these type of juvenile antics.”
Republican criticism of the post emerged more quickly than in some previous controversies involving Trump. Clarke suggested electoral considerations may have played a role. “It’s not lost on them, our communities that we represent, that elections are coming up,” she said. “If they want to align themselves with this type of really profane imagery, this type of bigoted and racist attack on a former sitting president and his wife, they are throwing their lot in with an individual who has shown himself to be a disgrace.”
Trump’s decision to remove the post, which is uncommon for him, did not signal a change in character, Clarke said. “I think it’s more of a political expediency than it is any moral compass,” she said. “As my mother would say, ‘Too late. Mercy’s gone.’”
Clarke said the incident could have lasting effects beyond Washington. “There are Black children who are listening to their president, seeing what he’s posting, and it will have an impact on how they view leadership of their own country,” she said. While she said administrations always have an opportunity to change course, she added, “Unfortunately, Donald Trump is hardwired this way.”
She concluded by calling for a broader response. “As a democracy, we have to stand up together against this type of racism, this type of bigotry, this kind of hatred that is coming from the president of the United States and those who surround him,” Clarke said. “Otherwise, it wouldn’t have stayed up for 12 hours.”
