Congressional Black Caucus chair says Trump’s post on the Obamas shows a ‘bigoted and racist regime’
WASHINGTON– Since a racist video was posted to President Donald Trump’s social media account, the White House has offered shifting responses.
He initially dismissed the “fake scandal,” then deleted the post and blamed a staff member.
Trump later told reporters Friday, “I didn’t make a mistake.” The Republican president insisted that before the video was released, no one had seen the portion depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as primates in the jungle.
But the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus had a different explanation when she spoke to The Associated Press.
“It’s very clear that there was an intent to harm people, to hurt people, with this video,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y.
The AP interviewed Clarke, who heads the group of more than 60 members of the Black House and Senate, hours after the video was removed Friday, and she was unsparing in her criticism. “As my mother would say, ‘Too late. Mercy’s gone,'” Clarke said.
Here is a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.
AP: What was your reaction when you saw this message?
CLARKE: We are dealing with a sectarian and racist regime. … Every week we find ourselves, as the American people, in a situation where we have to respond to something very cruel or extremely repulsive from this administration. This is part of their modus operandi at this point.
AP: Do you believe the White House explanation that it was an aide’s mistake?
CLARKE: They’re not telling the truth. If there wasn’t a toxic and racist climate within the White House, we wouldn’t see this type of behavior, no matter who it came from. … Here we are, in 2026, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the 100th anniversary of commemorating black history, and this is what comes out of the White House on a Friday morning. It’s beneath us all.
AP: Has there been any contact between the White House and the Congressional Black Caucus on this subject? Can there be an exchange in good faith?
CLARKE: There has been no outreach from the White House. We certainly didn’t expect it. Awareness needs to happen before this type of juvenile antics.
AP: Republican criticism grew more quickly Friday than in previous Trump controversies. What do you think?
CLARKE: It is not lost on them, our communities that we represent, that elections are coming. So this didn’t escape my colleagues either. If they want to align themselves with this type of truly profane imagery, this type of bigoted, racist attack on a former sitting president and his wife, they are aligning themselves with an individual who has proven himself to be a disgrace.
AP: It’s not common for President Trump to recant. What does that tell you he did?
CLARKE: I think it’s more about political expediency than any moral compass. …As my mother would say: “Too late. Mercy is gone.”
AP: What more do you hope to see from the White House on this?
CLARKE: I hope we can contain the harm they do. There are black children listening to their president…seeing what he posts on Truth Social (and) it will impact how they view the leadership of their own country. … I think this administration has an opportunity to change course. They always do it. We leave room for that. But unfortunately, Donald Trump is programmed that way.
AP: Is there anything else you would like to add?
CLARKE: As a democracy, we must stand together against this type of racism, this type of bigotry, this kind of hatred that comes from the President of the United States and those around him. … It’s very clear that there was an intention to harm people, to hurt people, with this video. Otherwise he wouldn’t have stayed up for 12 hours.
___ Barrow reported from Atlanta.
