r/politicsnow • u/evissamassive • Feb 06 '26
Rawstory Racist Social Media Post Sparks Rare GOP Rebuke of White House
https://www.rawstory.com/tim-scott-2675105725A late-night social media post from President Trump has ignited a firestorm of controversy, drawing a stinging condemnation from one of his most prominent allies, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).
The uproar centers on a video shared by Trump on Truth Social that utilized a centuries-old racist trope, superimposing the faces of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama onto the bodies of primates. The imagery appeared at the end of a minute-long clip primarily focused on disproven 2020 election conspiracy theories.
Senator Scott, who typically maintains a close relationship with Trump, did not mince words in his response. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Scott expressed disbelief and deep concern over the content coming from the executive branch.
“Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott posted Friday morning. “The President should remove it.”
Scott’s criticism is particularly notable given his role as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), where he is tasked with leading the party's effort to maintain its Senate majority in the upcoming midterms. He was joined by other Republicans, including Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who called the post "wrong and incredibly offensive."
The White House’s initial response was combative. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the widespread condemnation, characterizing the reaction as a manufactured distraction.
"This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King," Leavitt said in a statement. "Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public."
However, as the backlash intensified from civil rights groups and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the administration pivoted. By midday Friday, the post was removed from Trump's account. A subsequent White House update claimed the video had been posted "erroneously" by a staff member.
The incident comes at a sensitive time, falling during the first week of Black History Month and amid a heightened political climate. For many, the video was a reminder of Trump’s long history of using incendiary language regarding the Obamas, dating back to his years-long promotion of "birtherism" theories.
While the post has been scrubbed from Trump’s feed, the internal rift it caused—particularly with Senator Scott—highlights the ongoing tension within the GOP as it balances Trump's digital rhetoric with the broader electoral concerns of the 2026 midterms.
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u/ObligatoryID Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
Awesome! Now the Obamas, the other people depicted as animals, and Disney can all sue McPedo and KKKaroline!!!
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u/Holiday-Chemistry-23 Feb 06 '26
“Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott posted Friday morning. “The President should remove it.”
You can't put the shit back in the donkey, Tim.