Donald Trump refused to apologize for a racist post shared on his Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Speaking with reporters, Trump deflected responsibility, claiming a staffer posted the video. He acknowledged approving the post but said he did not know the full contents of the video at the time.
Questions remain about that explanation, including why a staffer would have access to Trump’s phone in the early morning hours when the post first appeared. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also dismissed the backlash, calling the reaction “fake outrage” and urging the media to “report on something that actually matters to the American public.”
Interestingly enough, these responses come from the same officials who routinely object when they are labeled racist or fascist, even as critics point to repeated incidents they say show otherwise.