Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., criticized President Donald Trump’s exploit of a racist meme on social media on February 5, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – The White House on Friday retracted a social media post that portrayed former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys after members of Congress from both political parties expressed dismay and called it racist.
A White House spokesman said in the States Newsroom around midday that a “staffer mistakenly authored the post” that was shared on President Donald Trump’s social media platform tardy Thursday evening.
But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote in a statement earlier in the day that the video was not a real problem.
“This is from an internet meme video that portrays President Trump as the king of the jungle and the Democrats as characters from The Lion King,” she wrote. “Please stop the feigned outrage and report on something that actually matters to the American public today.”
The White House press office also made the announcement via email the full videowhich was released in October. Trump shared a snippet of the video on his social media account at 11:44 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, along with another video about allegations of 2020 voter fraud in Michigan.
The decision to delete Trump’s social media post followed hours of resistance from lawmakers.
“I pray it was a fake because it is the most racist thing I have seen in this White House,” wrote Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. “The president should remove it.”
Scott is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, whose job is to ensure the GOP retains its majority in that chamber after November’s midterm elections.
Nebraska Republican Senator Pete Ricketts wrote: “Even if this were a Lion King meme, a reasonable person would recognize the racist context behind it. The White House should do what everyone does when they make a mistake: remove this and apologize.”
New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler wrote: “The post is false and incredibly offensive – whether intentional or mistake – and should be immediately deleted with an apology.”
Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker called the post “completely unacceptable.”
“The president should rescind it and apologize.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., described the video as something that is “dangerous and demeaning to our country” and “racist. Disgusting. Disgusting.”
“The President must immediately delete the post and apologize to Barack and Michelle Obama, two great Americans who make Donald Trump look like a small, jealous man,” Schumer wrote.
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin wrote: “This is racist nonsense from President Trump. If you defend him, you are on the wrong side of history.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wrote: “President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, compassionate and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country.”
“Donald Trump is a vile, bumbling and vicious bottom-feeder,” Jeffries added. “Why do GOP leaders like John Thune continue to stand by this sick person? Every single Republican must immediately denounce Donald Trump’s vile bigotry.”
New York Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, wrote that some people “still find Donald Trump’s behavior shocking. I don’t.”
“This is the man who built his political fortune through a vile campaign of lies and harassment against President Obama,” Clarke wrote. “Bigotry has been his hallmark since day one, and the miserable ‘yes’ men around him who enable or encourage this behavior are not going to change that.
“As his scandals continue to escalate and he continues to lose what little clarity he has left, I expect Donald will only retreat deeper into the sewers of racism and ignorance. That’s where he feels most comfortable. That’s where he feels most at home.”
Virginia Democratic Rep. Don Beyer wrote: “Donald Trump greets the first week of Black History Month with one of the most racist things he has ever posted. This man is not doing well.”
