Trump says he directed posting of racist video that depicted Obamas as apes however claims to not have seen offensive photographs
Donald Trump admitted on Air Drive One Friday night time that he did direct aides to put up a racist video on his social media account that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, however claimed that he didn’t see that a part of the video, which was close to the tip of a 62-second clip that in any other case repeated conspiracy theories about his 2020 election loss.
Though the White Home initially defended the video, in an announcement from the press secretary, the video was later deleted and reporters had been informed that it had been posted, with out the president’s data, by an aide.
Natalie Harp, an aide to Trump, and a former anchor for the conspiratorial One American Information, reportedly has entry to the president’s Fact Social account.
As he so usually does, Trump undercut efforts by his aides to elucidate away his personal conduct, by telling reporters that he did approve posting the video. “I checked out it, I noticed it and I simply seemed on the first half,” the president stated. “I didn’t see the entire thing; I suppose through the finish of it there was some form of a [thing] that individuals don’t like. I wouldn’t prefer it both. However I didn’t see it, I simply, I seemed on the first half… then I gave it to the individuals. Typically they take a look at the entire thing, however I suppose any individual didn’t they usually posted- and we took it down.”
Requested if he would apologize, as even Republican officers have instructed he ought to, Trump bristled. “No, I didn’t make a mistake,” the president who authorised the posting of a racist meme on his social media account stated. “I imply you give, I take a look at a variety of, hundreds of issues,” he added, apparently suggesting that his posts, that are official statements from the president of america, aren’t one thing he takes a lot care about.
Trump then went on to supply a model of the reason his press secretary had given earlier within the day, when the put up was left up, that the meme was a reference to The Lion King. “No person knew that was on the finish” he added, in reference to what was, once more, a clip that lasted simply over one minute. “Definitely if they’d seemed, they’d’ve seen it, and possibly they’d’ve had the sense to take it down.”
Trump’s declare that the clip was taken down as quickly because the racist depiction of the Obamas was found is unfaithful, provided that the put up remained up for hours after Karoline Leavitt, the White Home press secretary, tried to brush off the outrage.
“That is from an web meme video depicting President Trump because the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” Leavitt stated in an announcement on Friday morning. “Please cease the pretend outrage and report on one thing immediately that really issues to the American public.”
Key occasions
Hegseth says US protection division will now not help ‘woke’ Harvard
Pete Hegseth, the previous Fox weekend host now serving as US protection secretary, introduced in a video assertion on Friday that the Pentagon is “discontinuing all graduate-level skilled navy schooling, PME, all fellowships, and certificates packages between Harvard College and the warfare division for active-duty service members”.
Hegseth, who made no point out of the grasp’s in public coverage he earned from Harvard’s John F Kennedy College of Authorities, attacked the college as “one of many red-hot facilities of Hate America activism”.
“Too many school members brazenly detest our navy; they solid our armed forces in. a unfavorable mild and squelch anybody who challenges their leftist political leanings,” he stated.
“With some exceptions,” Hegseth added, “the Ivy League as an entire has pervasive institutional bias and a scarcity of viewpoint range, together with the coddling of poisonous ideologies that undercuts our mission.”
“That’s the reason, in two weeks’ time, parts of all of our departments – military, navy and air power – will consider all present graduate packages for active-duty service members in any respect Ivy League universities and different civilian universities,” he added.
“The objective is to find out whether or not or not they really ship cost-effective, strategic schooling for future senior leaders.”
The Pentagon’s give attention to “constructing lethality”, Hegseth additionally stated, “now not consists of spending tens of millions of {dollars} on costly universities that actively undercut our mission and undercut our nation. We practice warriors, not wokesters.”
The Harvard alumni ended his video message with: “Harvard: good riddance.”
Whereas Hegseth made no express reference to his personal time at Harvard, the meant viewers for his remarks, Fox Information viewers, together with Viewer Quantity One within the White Home, possible understood what he meant by the cryptic apart “I do know it nicely” when he first talked about the college.
That’s as a result of Hegseth’s assault on Harvard has been a theme of his political rhetoric in books and on tv for years. He disparaged the college in two of his books, and, in a reside phase of the morning present Fox & Pals in 2022, Hegseth made a present of defacing his diploma and writing “Return to sender” on it in giant letters.
Throughout the identical broadcast, Hegseth acknowledged that he was not likely “returning” his diploma: “Individuals will say, ‘That is only a stunt, you continue to have a level’. And that’s fantastic, I went; I received the diploma; I walked; took the courses and all that.”
Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday to spice up imports of Argentinian beef, although economists have stated the try to decrease prices for American shoppers will in all probability have little influence on costs, Reuters stories.
When the White Home first stated Trump would increase the restrict on how a lot low-tariff beef may very well be imported from Argentina, US cattle ranchers had been enraged.
Trump has confronted stress to deal with the difficulty of affordability, which he has been calling “a hoax” since a give attention to rising prices helped Democratic candidates sweep a number of elections in 2025.
The transfer comes as US beef costs set report highs final 12 months, benefiting ranchers who largely supported Trump, because of robust client demand and declining cattle provides
Ranchers slashed the herd to its lowest stage in 75 years as of January, after a persistent drought burned up pastures used for grazing and hiked feeding prices, in response to US information.
Trump’s choice to boost the tariff charge quota on Argentine beef by 80,000 metric tons will let Argentina ship extra of its beef to the US at a decrease charge of obligation. The rise will apply solely to lean beef trimmings, that are blended with home provides to make hamburger meat, in response to the proclamation.
“As a substitute of imports that sideline American ranchers, we must be targeted on options that reduce pink tape, decrease manufacturing prices, and help rising our cattle herd,” stated Deb Fischer, a Republican senator from the main cattle-producing state of Nebraska.
Economists have stated elevated US imports of Argentinian beef will possible be too small to considerably decrease prices for grocery retailer buyers, however the shipments might assist enhance margins for meals firms.
The US imported about 33,000 metric tons of Argentinian beef in 2024, representing 2% of whole imports, in response to authorities information.
Boos for JD Vance are heard at Olympics opening ceremony, however not by viewers in US
Whereas video posted on social media captured the booing of JD Vance, the US vice-president, on the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan, the gang response to his presence was not heard or remarked upon within the US TV protection streamed reside on Peacock, the NBC Sports activities platform.
“As america crew, led by the speedskater Erin Jackson, made its means throughout the stadium it was loudly applauded,” the Guardian’s Sean Ingle reported from the San Siro in Milan. “However then the TV cameras panned to the US vice-president, JD Vance, and his spouse, Usha, and the cheers turned to loud boos.
“The boos had been picked up on the printed, too,” the Toronto Star columnist Bruce Arthur famous, referring to the Canadian broadcaster CBC’s protection of the second, which featured one commentator saying: “There may be the vice-president JD Vance and his spouse Usha – oop, these aren’t … uh … these are a variety of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”
The NBC reside stream seen by People, nonetheless, ignored the second. The booing of Vance, when he appeared on screens contained in the stadium through the entry of Group USA, was additionally not audible, or talked about in a clip of the second posted on YouTube by the broadcaster.
On social media, the White Home shared a clip of the US crew’s entrance, and Vance applauding, from the boo-less NBC broadcast.
Different journalists contained in the stadium confirmed the bizarre booing through the ceremony.
“It’s very uncommon to listen to boos at an Olympic opening ceremony,” the USA At this time correspondent Christine Brennan reported from Italy. “In my 22 Olympics it in all probability has occurred however I positive don’t keep in mind it. Vice President JD Vance simply received booed when he appeared on the massive display. The US athletes, alternatively, obtained loud cheers.”
The BBC Sport reside blogger heard the boos. “The USA crew received large cheers as they entered the sector,” Emma Smith reported from the stadium for the BBC. “These cheers turned rapidly to boos when American vice chairman JD Vance appeared on the massive display. He’s on the stadium tonight with spouse Usha.”
Arthur famous that Vance was not alone in being booed. “Israel was positively booed,” the columnist famous on the Star’s reside weblog. “ Not universally, however there have been extra boos than cheers within the Milan stadium for the 4 Israeli athletes who marched.”
Invoice Clinton calls for public listening to in Congress and full launch of Epstein recordsdata
Invoice Clinton, the previous president, renewed his name for the complete launch of recordsdata from the federal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, the late intercourse offender, and demanded that his testimony to Congress on his relationship with Epstein be made in a public listening to, not behind closed doorways.
“I’ve referred to as for the complete launch of the Epstein recordsdata. I’ve offered a sworn assertion of what I do know. And simply this week, I’ve agreed to seem in particular person earlier than the committee. However it’s nonetheless not sufficient for Republicans on the Home Oversight Committee,” Clinton stated in an announcement.
“Now, Chairman Comer says he needs cameras, however solely behind closed doorways. Who advantages from this association? It’s not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the general public, who deserve the reality. It serves solely partisan pursuits. This isn’t fact-finding, it’s pure politics,” he added. “I can’t sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court docket by a Republican Social gathering operating scared. If they need solutions, let’s cease the video games & do that the best means: in a public listening to, the place the American individuals can see for themselves what that is actually about.”
The previous president’s spokesman has stated that he used Epstein’s personal jet on 4 journeys in 2002 and 2003 – visiting Europe, Asia and Africa “in reference to the work of the Clinton Basis” – however denied ever visiting Epstein personal island and claimed he had no contact with him after he was first charged with intercourse crimes.
Invoice Clinton’s assertion on Friday seconded a name made by his spouse, the previous first woman and US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, on Thursday, when she accused James Comer, the Republican chair of the Home oversight committee, of enjoying “video games”, by demanding testimony from each Clintons, however behind closed doorways. “You’re keen on to speak about transparency,” Hillary Clinton informed Comer on social media. “There’s nothing extra clear than a public listening to, cameras on.”
Sanya Mansoor
The Division of Homeland Safety’s inspector normal is investigating federal immigration authorities’ use of surveillance applied sciences. That features the gathering of delicate biometric information and using facial recognition expertise, which has turn out to be more and more utilized by DHS and ICE brokers towards immigrants and residents.
Joseph Cuffari, the top of the DHS watchdog, wrote in a letter on Friday that his workplace’s audit would tackle many issues flagged by Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. The pair wrote to Cuffari on 29 January –following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, about potential civil liberty violations tied to federal legal guidelines about information privateness and illegal searches.
“ICE’s new info assortment instruments probably allow DHS to bypass the constitutional protections offered by the fourth amendment-protections assured to all People and all individuals inside our borders,” the senators wrote.
The letter took explicit challenge with ICE’s contracts with surveillance and analytics agency, Palantir, and facial recognition software program developer, Clearview AI, in addition to using packages “that DHS doesn’t have workplace entry to-including Flock License Plate Scanning Software program”.
Senators requested for extra details about how DHS shops and makes use of delicate, personally figuring out information, reckons with false positives, considers consent round information assortment and the way this information could also be used to outline targets of immigration enforcement actions.
The Senators stated in a joint press launch on Friday that the investigation is “an necessary first step in investigating if People’ information is being misused.”
For some immigration advocates, there’s a necessity for much more urgency. “ICE has been working like a paramilitary power, utilizing facial recognition tech to suppress dissent and goal individuals of coloration in blatant racial profiling incidents throughout the nation,” stated Laura Rivera, senior employees legal professional at Simply Futures Regulation, in an emailed assertion. (The group has been working to uncover extra particulars about Palantir’s collaboration with DHS by way of public information requests). “An Inspector Basic investigation into these abuses is way from enough-we want actual accountability and a ban on using this noxious technique of surveillance.”
This week, congressional Democrats additionally launched a measure that might ban ICE and CBP from utilizing facial recognition expertise and different biometric identification programs.
Here is a recap of the day to this point
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Following intense backlash from Democrats and Republicans, the White Home has now taken down Trump’s Fact Social repost of a racist video, depicting the Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Earlier, press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to brush off the outrage, defending Trump’s repost as “an web meme video depicting President Trump because the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King”.
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Oblique talks between Iran and the US on the way forward for Iran’s nuclear programme ended on Friday with a broad settlement to keep up a diplomatic path, presumably with additional talks within the coming days, in response to statements from Iran and the Omani hosts. The relieved Iranian overseas minister, Abbas Araghchi, described the eight hours of conferences as a “good begin” carried out in a very good environment. The US crew was led by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the US president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
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Donald Trump has informed the Senate’s prime Democrat, Chuck Schumer, that he’ll unfreeze funds for main infrastructure initiatives in New York Metropolis if he helps renaming Dulles worldwide airport and Penn Station after him. The demand, which was first reported on Thursday by Punchbowl Information, comes after the president in October halted $18bn in funding for a significant subway line growth in New York Metropolis in addition to a brand new rail tunnel connecting town to New Jersey.
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The US legal professional normal, Pam Bondi, introduced immediately that officers arrested one of many “key individuals” within the 2012 Benghazi terrorist assault that killed 4 US authorities officers, together with the US ambassador to Libya, J Christopher Stevens. Bondi stated suspect Zubayar al-Bakoush was taken into custody at 3am ET on Friday. “We are going to prosecute this alleged terrorist to the fullest extent of the legislation. He’ll face prices associated to homicide, terrorism, arson, amongst others,” Bondi informed reporters immediately.
Newsom debunks DHS declare that California plans to launch 33,000 undocumented criminals from state prisons
Earlier immediately, the Division of Homeland Safety issued a press launch claiming that California plans to launch greater than 33,000 undocumented criminals from the state’s jails if detainers – ICE’s civil requests that native companies aren’t legally required to honor – aren’t honored.
There are some things to unpack right here. First, the administration is referring to “jails.” California state legislation sharply restricts any cooperation between county jails and federal immigration enforcement. Accessing jails has lengthy been a objective for Trump officers searching for to extend deportation numbers. In Minnesota, for instance, Tom Homan, the president’s “border czar”, has routinely pushed sheriffs to switch individuals from jails to federal custody through the ongoing immigration crackdown. Homan stated this week that extra counties are pledging to work with the company, since state legislation there permits sheriffs to resolve the extent of collaboration.
In California, the state jail system is run by the California division of corrections and rehabilitation (CDCR), which does cooperate with ICE in restricted circumstances.
Underneath state legislation, CDCR might notify ICE and switch custody when individuals with sure critical or violent felony convictions full their sentences. Usually, when somebody’s launch date is approaching, CDCR contacts ICE to find out whether or not the company intends to take custody. If the particular person is a noncitizen and ICE has not issued a detainer, CDCR nonetheless notifies federal immigration authorities forward of the inmate’s launch.
The latest information from CDCR exhibits that in 2025, ICE picked up greater than 88% of the individuals for whom it issued detainers whereas they had been in state jail.
One key level: neither state prisons nor jails are permitted to carry somebody previous their scheduled launch date – a standard ask by federal immigration brokers.
Newsom’s workplace doubled down on the state jail system’s longstanding compliance immediately, whereas accusing the Trump administration of making an attempt to “distract” from the president posting a racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama.
“California cooperates with ICE with regards to REMOVING CRIMINALS – like sick rapists and murderers – in our state prisons,” the governor’s workplace wrote on social media.
It’s not clear what supply the administration is utilizing to assert there are greater than 33,000 undocumented criminals in California’s jails, or in the event that they meant the jail system. In 2025, CDCR recorded solely 1,641 ICE detainers for the greater than 26,000 individuals launched from custody.
Neither the White Home nor DHS instantly responded to the Guardian’s requests for remark.
New Jersey Democratic major on knife edge as votes trickle in
Chris Stein, Robert Mackey and Maya Yang
The end result of a particular Democratic major to fill a US Home of Representatives seat representing northern New Jersey was on a knife-edge on Friday, after a progressive challenger took a shock lead over a former Democratic congressman who initially appeared to have received the nomination.
The election held on Thursday in New Jersey’s eleventh congressional district was prompted by Democrat Mikie Sherrill’s resignation final 12 months after she was elected governor. Eleven Democrats vied to exchange her, and on Thursday night, Tom Malinowski, who represented a neighboring district within the Home from 2019 by way of 2022, took an early lead.
The Democratic Nationwide Committee chair, Ken Martin, rapidly congratulated Malinowski, however because the poll rely continued, Analilia Mejia, a progressive activist and former political director for Bernie Sanders, overtook the previous congressman.
The Related Press has not but referred to as the race, however Mejia was main Malinowski by 488 votes on Friday morning, with greater than 61,000 ballots counted.
Amid the controversy across the president’s late-night put up of a racist video of the Obamas, he simply famous that he completed a gathering with the Committee for the Preservation of the White Home.
“It went rather well,” the president stated on Fact Social. “Terrific individuals who adore the Constructing, and love our Nation much more.”
A reminder that the committee is working with the Trump administration on his renovation of the East Wing of the White Home, which incorporates the development of a brand new ballroom, that comes with a $300m price ticket.
Chris Stein
Donald Trump has informed the Senate’s prime Democrat, Chuck Schumer, that he’ll unfreeze funds for main infrastructure initiatives in New York Metropolis if he helps renaming Dulles worldwide airport and Penn Station after him.
The demand, which was first reported on Thursday by Punchbowl Information, comes after the president in October halted $18bn in funding for a significant subway line growth in New York Metropolis in addition to a brand new rail tunnel connecting town to New Jersey. The funding freeze was introduced on the primary day of a 43-day authorities shutdown by which Schumer, who represents New York, performed a significant function.
A spokesman for Schumer didn’t reply to a request for remark from the Guardian.
Trump, who isn’t eligible to serve one other time period as president, has moved to emblazon his title on a number of presidency buildings and web sites since taking workplace a 12 months in the past, together with the Kennedy Middle and the US Institute for Peace. It’s unclear if both change is authorized.
He additionally pushed congressional Republicans to create new tax-advantaged funding accounts for younger individuals dubbed “Trump Accounts”, and introduced a brand new government-run web site to promote discounted pharmaceuticals referred to as TrumpRX.com.
The president can be reportedly planning to construct a 250ft arch throughout the river from Washington DC that might dwarf the Lincoln Memorial.
Right here’s what some extra Democratic lawmakers needed to say in condemning Donald Trump’s repost, which included a racist clip depicting former president Barack Obama and former first woman Michelle Obama as apes, and calling on Republicans to talk out.
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders wrote:
Trump posted a disgustingly racist video depicting the Obamas as apes.
Are my Republican colleagues going to proceed to bend the knee to a racist, authoritarian president who needs the American individuals to bow down earlier than him?
Senator Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, stated on X:
The vile video is racist. Interval. And it got here from a racist White Home. For those who can’t say that, what are we doing right here.
Additionally of Maryland, governor Wes Moore stated:
The President’s put up on Fact Social goes past a canine whistle. It’s blatant racism, counting on imagery that has lengthy been used to demean and dehumanize Black individuals. However this second is about greater than a single put up. The phrases our leaders select matter. The pictures they invoke matter. It shapes how we see each other and the form of nation we’re deciding to be. Management is about bringing individuals collectively, not tearing one another aside.
Reverend Raphael Warnock, senator from Georgia, equally evoked photographs of division:
Sure … I noticed the racist meme from the President of america. The President is making an attempt to summon our nation’s darkest demons to additional divide us. Our nation’s religious rot is coming from the White Home. I’m calling on all first rate and honorable individuals to sentence this unabashed racism. Push again on hate, let love abide.
Colorado senator John Hickenlooper stated:
Is the President sharing these disgusting racist photographs to distract individuals from his ICE brokers killing individuals on the street? I don’t even assume he deserves that credit score. Each single Republican ought to denounce this instantly.
Virginia senator Tim Kaine stated:
Trump was again at it once more final night time spamming his Fact Social with conspiracy theories, bizarre video edits, and racist depictions of Barack and Michelle Obama. How can anybody say it is a good search for the US or that it is a mentally nicely chief who must be in energy?
Additionally from Virginia, senator Mark Warner stated:
Trump’s blatant racism is indefensible.
Former Home speaker Nancy Pelosi stated:
The in a single day put up from the President of america is nothing however vile, racist filth. He must be ashamed of himself, if he had been able to disgrace. Taking it down isn’t sufficient. The White Home should apologize for this past disgusting conduct.
In an announcement to Reuters, Derrick Johnson, nationwide president of civil rights group the NAACP stated:
Donald Trump’s video is blatantly racist, disgusting, and completely despicable. Voters are watching and can keep in mind this on the poll field.
White Home deletes Trump put up after livid backlash and says it was ‘erroneously’ made by a staffer
Following an intense backlash this morning, the White Home has now taken down Trump’s Fact Social repost of a video displaying a racist clip depicting the Obamas as apes.
A number of shops cite a senior White Home official as saying:
A White Home staffer erroneously made the put up. It has been taken down.
The put up was up for 12 hours.
As we reported earlier, a number of hours in the past the White Home had initially tried to brush off the outrage, defending Trump’s repost as “an web meme video”.
“That is from an web meme video depicting President Trump because the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” Karoline Leavitt stated earlier. “Please cease the pretend outrage and report on one thing immediately that really issues to the American public.”
Politicians from each events have this morning condemned the put up and urged Trump to take away it. CNN additionally stories that GOP lawmakers had referred to as Trump to debate it with him, citing a supply acquainted with the matter.
Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has additionally slammed the “racist, bigoted audacity” of Trump’s put up, calling the president’s behaviour “disgusting and disturbing”.
Ending her X put up, Crockett addressed her Republican friends:
However when will or not it’s sufficient for individuals who proceed to face beside him? When will Republicans in Congress condemn his conduct? Your silence is complicity – and it is vitally loud.
Becoming a member of the refrain of disapproval immediately is Republican congressman Mike Lawler, a average consultant from New York, who referred to as the Trump’s put up “improper and extremely offensive”.
Lawler stated the video “must be deleted instantly with an apology provided”.
GOP senator calls on Trump to delete racist video of Obamas
Tim Scott, the one Black Republican senator in Congress, had condemned the racist video that Donald Trump posted on social media, depicting the Obamas as apes.
“Praying it was pretend as a result of it’s probably the most racist factor I’ve seen out of this White Home,” Scott stated. “The president ought to take away it.”
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