WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House’s response has been changing since a racist video was posted on President Donald Trump’s social media account.
First, it dismissed the “fake outrage” before deleting the post and blaming a staff member.
“I didn’t make a mistake,” Trump told reporters on Friday. The Republican president insisted that no one had seen the part depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle before the video was released.
But the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus offered a different explanation in an interview with The Associated Press.
“It’s clear that this video had the intent to cause harm to others,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y.
The Associated Press interviewed Clark on Friday, hours after the video was taken down, and she was unsparing in her criticism. Clark leads a group of more than 60 Black Lodge and Senate MPs. “As my mother would say, ‘It’s too late. The mercy is gone,'” Clark said.
This is a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.
AP: What was your reaction when you saw this post?
Clark: We are dealing with a bigoted, racist regime. … As the American people, we have to respond every week to something this administration does that is either very cruel or extremely offensive. This is part of their actions at this time.
AP: Do you believe the White House’s explanation that it was an aide’s fault?
Clark: They’re not telling the truth. If there wasn’t a toxic and racist climate within the White House, we wouldn’t be seeing this kind of behavior, no matter who it comes from. … In 2026, we are here to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America and to commemorate 100 years of Black history, that’s the message from the White House on Friday morning. It’s underneath all of us.
AP: Has there been any contact between the White House and the Congressional Black Caucus about this? Can there be friendly communication?
Clark: The White House hasn’t done any outreach yet. We certainly didn’t expect it. Outreach must occur before such teenage antics occur.
AP: Republican criticism of Trump grew faster on Friday than during previous controversies. What do you think about this?
Clark: It’s not lost on them, the communities that we represent, that there’s an election coming. So it’s not lost on my colleagues. If they want to align themselves with this truly sacrilegious image, this bigoted and racist attack on a former president and his wife, they are tying their fate to a man who has shown disgrace.
AP: It’s unusual for President Trump to retract any of his remarks. What does this show you that he did?
Clark: I think it’s more of a political expediency than any moral compass. … As my mother would say, “It’s too late. The mercy is gone.”
AP: What else would you like to see from the White House on this matter?
Clark: I hope we can curb the damage they’re doing. There are black kids who are listening to their president…seeing what he posts on the Truth Society (and) it’s going to have an impact on how they view the leadership of their country. … I think there’s an opportunity for this administration to change course. They always do this. We make room for that. But unfortunately, Donald Trump was born that way.
AP: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Clark: As a democracy, we must stand together against this kind of racism, bigotry and hatred coming from the president of the United States and those around him. …It is clear that this video has the intention to hurt people and hurt people. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stayed up 12 hours.
___ Burrow reported from Atlanta.
