Trump’s racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it

A racist social media post by President Donald Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as primates has been deleted following widespread backlash from both Republicans and Democrats. Trump stated he would not apologize for the post, claiming he "didn't make a mistake." The White House initially defended the post, attributing it to a staffer who posted it erroneously, after which it was taken down. This incident occurred during Black History Month and days after a presidential proclamation celebrating the contributions of Black Americans. Critics, including the Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman, condemned the post and Trump's rhetoric, citing a history of racism. Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott, also called for the post to be removed. The post was part of a series of overnight activities on Trump's Truth Social account that amplified his claims of a stolen 2020 election. The deletion raises questions about the control and vetting process of Trump's social media account. The article also references a long history of associating Black people with animals in racist ways, as well as Trump's past use of incendiary rhetoric regarding immigrants and majority-Black nations.