Congressional Black Caucus chair says Trump’s post on the Obamas shows a ‘bigoted and racist regime’

The White House has found itself entangled in controversy after a racist video posted on President Donald Trump’s social media account depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle setting.

In the aftermath of the post, the administration has cycled through several explanations. Initial responses dismissed concerns as “fake outrage” before the video was eventually deleted with blame redirected to an unnamed staff member.

When questioned by reporters on Friday, President Trump distanced himself from taking responsibility, stating, “I didn’t make a mistake.” He maintained that no one had noticed the offensive imagery before the video was posted.

The Congressional Black Caucus has strongly condemned the incident. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, CBC Chair Representative Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) offered a blunt assessment of the situation.

“It’s very clear that there was an intent to harm people, to hurt people, with this video,” Clarke said, adding that the delayed removal of the content—which reportedly remained online for approximately 12 hours—undermined claims that it was an unintentional error.

When asked if she accepted the White House explanation that an aide had made a mistake, Clarke was unequivocal in her rejection. “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.”

The timing of the incident carries additional significance, occurring as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary and the centennial commemoration of Black history. “This is what comes out of the White House on a Friday morning. It’s beneath all of us,” Clarke remarked.

The controversy has prompted unusually swift criticism from Republican ranks, breaking from the pattern established during previous Trump-related controversies. Clarke suggested this response might be politically calculated rather than principled.

“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.”

The White House has not reached out to the Congressional Black Caucus regarding the incident, according to Clarke, who noted that such communication would need to occur “prior to these type of juvenile antics” to be considered genuine.

The rare retraction from the Trump administration raised questions about motivations. Clarke characterized the deletion as “more of a political expediency than it is any moral compass,” adding pointedly, “As my mother would say, ‘Too late. Mercy’s gone.'”

Beyond immediate political ramifications, Clarke expressed concern about broader societal impacts. “There are Black children who are listening to their president… seeing what he’s posting on Truth Social, and it will have an impact on how they view leadership of their own country.”

While acknowledging that “this administration has an opportunity to change course,” Clarke expressed pessimism about the likelihood of meaningful change, stating, “Unfortunately, Donald Trump is hardwired this way.”

Clarke concluded with a call for unified resistance against racism emanating from the White House. “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.”

The incident marks yet another flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and communities of color, coming at a politically sensitive time as election season approaches.