U.S. President Donald Trump has condemned but refused to apologise for a racist video briefly posted to his Truth Social account, insisting he had “not made a mistake” and blaming a staff member for uploading the content.
The video showed former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama depicted as apes in what appeared to be an AI-generated segment.
The clip, which included music associated with The Lion King, appeared at the end of a longer video amplifying Trump’s false claims that his defeat in the 2020 election was the result of fraud.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a staff member had “erroneously made the post” and that it was later removed. The deletion came hours after White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage”.
Trump later condemned the imagery but again refused to apologise, saying the offensive segment was not reviewed before the post went live and was taken down once identified. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said the staff member responsible had not noticed the material.
The post drew immediate criticism from across the political spectrum. Republican Senator Tim Scott, the Senate’s only Black Republican, wrote on X: “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
Republican Representative Mike Lawler also said Trump should delete the post and apologise.
Before the video was taken down, Leavitt said it was “from an internet meme depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King”.
A spokesperson for the Obamas declined to comment.
Former Obama aide Ben Rhodes criticised the post, while civil rights groups also condemned the video. NAACP president Derrick Johnson described it as “blatantly racist, disgusting and utterly despicable”.
Trump has previously shared posts criticised as racist, including false claims about Obama’s birthplace and comments about Somalis and developing nations.
He was also criticised last year for sharing an edited image of Hakeem Jeffries depicting him with a handlebar moustache and a sombrero.
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Oil tankers began moving through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday as an interim agreement between the United States and Iran came into effect, marking a tentative de-escalation in a conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and heightened regional tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statement on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the recent agreement between the U.S. and Iran, saying it could help stabilise the Middle East and ease pressure on global energy and food markets.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has delivered a stark message to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, warning that some member states are falling short on defence commitments and signalling a tougher U.S. approach as the alliance prepares for its upcoming summit in Ankara.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statement on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
Britain has announced an additional £8 million ($11 million) to help Pakistan combat illegal migration, human trafficking and organised crime, while praising Islamabad's role in diplomacy that helped secure the recent U.S.-Iran agreement.
Caleb Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time goal secured a 1-0 win for Ghana over Panama as World Cup action delivered a mix of late drama and key results. Colombia and England also began their campaigns with victories, while DR Congo held Portugal in a historic 1-1 draw and Austria beat Jordan 3-1.
The European Commission has announced €493 million in emergency support for the Ebola response, including funding for vaccines, treatment and health security measures.
The United Arab Emirates has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction as governments worldwide seek to address growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on children.
Nearly 300 students and staff were evacuated after a fire broke out at an elementary school in northern Tokyo on Friday morning, leaving 10 people with minor injuries, according to Japanese media.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 19 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to ousting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday in what could be most consequential local election in more than six decades.
European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to extend sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine for a further 12 months, marking the first time the restrictive measures have been renewed on an annual basis rather than the previous six-month cycle.
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