Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina publicly criticized President Donald Trump after a video went viral showing former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with ape-like bodies. The clip, which was removed shortly afterward by the White House, generated a wave of reactions and reignited the debate about racism in the United States. Scott, the only African-American Republican senator and considered a Trump ally on several issues, reacted strongly through his X account, stating that he hoped the information was false because, if true, it would be "the most racist thing" he had ever seen coming from the White House. He also directly demanded that the content be removed.

Controversy over Obama video and accusations of racism

On Thursday night, Trump shared a video on his Truth Social account where, in the final seconds, the heads of Barack and Michelle Obama appeared superimposed on the bodies of primates, moving to the rhythm of a song associated with The Lion King. Hours after the controversy, a White House official said that the post was made in error by a staff member and had already been removed. However, the explanation did not stop the criticism; Several Republicans also expressed their discontent, such as Representative Mike Lawler, who called the video "wrong" and "offensive," stating that, whether intentional or not, it should be removed and an apology issued. The full video, according to reports, focused primarily on unproven theories of election fraud in 2020. However, it was the final scene that sparked the controversy.