US President Donald Trump has stated he 'didn't see' the section of a social media video that included a racist depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The video, which featured claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, was posted on Trump's Truth Social account and quickly deleted following significant backlash. Trump defended himself, saying he had only viewed the initial part of the video, implying that his staff was responsible for the oversight.

Criticism of the video came not only from Democrats but also from within the Republican Party, with Senator Tim Scott labeling it 'the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House' and calling for its removal. Trump's White House initially downplayed the incident, referring to the clip as an 'internet meme video', but the intensity of the backlash led to a retraction and deletion of the post.

The offending video also featured other high-profile Democrats depicted as animals, and it was shared by a conservative meme creator previously. Despite Trump's assertion of ignorance, the incident raises questions about the standards and protocols surrounding content shared via his official platforms.

The Obamas have yet to comment, as further condemnation mounts from public figures who demand accountability and action against what many deem to be blatant racism.