Senator Tim Scott, the Senate’s only Black Republican, publicly condemned a racist video that President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling on the president to remove it. The clip, which depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, was accompanied by the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. The post, shared late Thursday night, was deleted by Friday following an unusually strong backlash, including criticism from members of Trump’s own party.
Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it. https://t.co/gADoM13ssZ
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) February 6, 2026
Scott responded, writing that he was “praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” and adding, “The President should remove it.” As the only Black Republican in the Senate, Scott’s rebuke marked a rare and forceful critique from within the president’s inner circle.
BREAKING: Full video that briefly appeared on President Trump’s TruthSocial post. pic.twitter.com/eLLD8yjxmq
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) February 6, 2026
The White House initially dismissed criticism of the video as “fake outrage.” The clip was soon removed from Truth Social, signaling an unusual reversal by the president, whose administration has historically defended or minimized similar posts.
The video is part of a broader pattern in which Trump has shared offensive content targeting Black Americans, women, and immigrants. During his presidency, racist imagery and slogans appeared on government accounts, and offensive memes and AI-generated content continue to appear in his social media posts. For instance, last month, the administration admitted to altering a photo of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, portraying her as disheveled and distressed; a spokesman dismissed it as “nothing more than a meme.”
Protester speaks out after White House AI-generated photo of her crying https://t.co/5w7NZPBgbS pic.twitter.com/SOTjlL15Ul
— The Independent (@Independent) February 3, 2026
The controversy highlights the tension within the Republican Party, as lawmakers balance loyalty to Trump with concerns about racially charged messaging. As head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Scott plays a key role in preparing the party for the 2026 midterm elections, and his criticism underscores the political and ethical stakes surrounding the post.
