President Donald Trump has firmly declined to issue any apology for a controversial video he posted and subsequently removed from his Truth Social account on Friday. The video in question featured a deeply offensive and racist image that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Defensive Stance on Air Force One
During an impromptu press briefing held aboard Air Force One on Friday evening, journalists confronted Trump about the incendiary post. The former president responded by asserting his innocence and shifting blame onto his staff. He emphatically declared himself to be the "least racist president you've had in a long time," a statement he repeated to underscore his position.
Claims of Unawareness and Voter Fraud Focus
Trump explained his actions by stating that he only viewed the initial segment of the video, which he claimed focused exclusively on allegations of voter fraud in electoral machines. He described this content as highlighting how "crooked" and "disgusting" the system is. According to his account, he was unaware of the racist imagery that appeared later in the video.
"I looked at it. I saw it, and I just looked at the first part. It was about voter fraud," Trump told reporters. "I guess during the end of it, there was some kind of a people don't like, I wouldn't like it either, but I didn't see it. I just I looked at the first part, and it was really about voter fraud in the machines."
Staff Intervention and Removal
The president revealed that a member of his staff reviewed the entire video after he posted it and promptly advised its deletion. This intervention led to the removal of the post from Truth Social, though the incident had already sparked widespread condemnation.
Refusal to Apologise Amid Republican Pressure
When questioned about growing calls from within the Republican Party for him to apologise for sharing the video, Trump remained defiant. He outright refused to accept responsibility or acknowledge any error in his actions.
"No, I didn't make a mistake. I mean, if I look at a lot of 1000s of things, I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine," Trump asserted, dismissing the notion that an apology was warranted.
Condemnation of Racist Content
In a subsequent exchange, a reporter directly asked Trump if he condemns the racist elements of the video. To this, he provided a clear, albeit brief, affirmation: "Of course I do." This statement marked his only direct repudiation of the offensive content, yet it was not coupled with any expression of regret for having disseminated the material.
The episode has reignited debates about racial sensitivity and accountability in political discourse, with critics arguing that Trump's response demonstrates a persistent pattern of deflecting blame rather than addressing the harmful impact of such posts.
