President Donald Trump condemned but declined to apologise on February 6 for a video shared on his social media account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, triggering swift bipartisan outrage.
The White House initially defended the post before deleting it about 12 hours later. The video, shared late February 5 on Trump’s Truth Social platform, promoted false claims that his 2020 election defeat was due to fraud and included what appeared to be an AI-generated clip featuring dancing primates with the Obamas’ faces.
Trump told reporters he had not watched the entire video before it was posted by a White House aide and said he had only seen the opening section. While he said he condemned the clip, he refused to apologise, insisting he had not made a mistake.
The post drew criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who urged its removal. Other Republicans also called for an apology.
After mounting backlash, the White House said the video had been posted in error. Civil rights groups said the incident reflected a broader pattern in Trump’s rhetoric. A spokesperson for the Obamas declined to comment.
Kursiv also reports that two Democratic U.S. senators have urged the Pentagon to launch an immediate review of SpaceX. This follows allegations that investors linked to China secretly acquired stakes in the company.
From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you key news and in-depth analysis from Uzbekistan and around the world. To stay up to date and get the latest stories in real time, follow our Telegram channel.
