WASHINGTON (AP) — Since a racist video was posted on President Donald Trump’s social media account, the White House has offered varying responses.
She first dismissed it as a “fake outrage,” then deleted the post and blamed a staff member.
Trump later told reporters on Friday that “I didn’t make a mistake.” The Republican President stressed that before the video was posted, no one had seen the part that shows former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as primates in the jungle.
But the president of the Congressional Black Caucus had a different explanation when she spoke to The Associated Press.
“It is very clear that there was an intention to harm people, to hurt people, with this video,” said the Rep. Yvette Clarke, DN.Y.
The AP interviewed Clarke, who heads the caucus of more than 60 Black House and Senate members, hours after the video was deleted Friday, and she was unflinching in her criticism. “As my mother used to say, “Too late. “The mercy is gone,” said Clarke.
Here is a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.
AP: What was your reaction when you saw that post?
CLARKE: We are facing a bigoted and racist regime. … Every week we, as the American people, are put in a position where we have to respond to something very cruel or something extremely off-putting that this administration does. It’s part of their MO at this point.
AP: Do you buy the White House’s explanation that this was an aide’s mistake?
CLARKE: They don’t tell the truth. If there wasn’t a climate, a toxic and racist climate within the White House, we wouldn’t see this kind of behavior regardless of who it comes from. … Here we are, in the year 2026, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the 100th anniversary of the commemoration of Black history, and this is what comes out of the White House on Friday morning. It is beneath us all.
AP: Has there been any contact between the White House and the Congressional Black Caucus about this? Could there be a good faith exchange?
CLARKE: There was no outreach from the White House. He certainly didn’t expect it to be there. Awareness should occur before these types of juvenile antics.
AP: Republican criticism built faster Friday than it has during previous Trump controversies. What do you make of that?
CLARKE: It’s not lost on them, our communities that we represent, that the elections are coming up. So it’s not lost on my colleagues, either. If they want to align themselves with this type of truly profane imagery, this type of bigoted and racist attack on a former sitting President and his wife, they are throwing their lot in with an individual who has shown himself to be a disgrace.
AP: It’s not common for President Trump to retract something. What does that tell you he did?
CLARKE: I think it’s more political expediency than any moral compass. … As my mother used to say, “Too late. The mercy is gone.”
AP: What else do you hope to see from the White House on this?
CLARKE: My hope is that we can stop the damage they are doing. There are Black children who are listening to their president … they see what he is putting on Social Truth (and) it will have an impact on how they view the leadership of their own country. … I think this administration has the opportunity to change course. They always do. We leave room for this. But, unfortunately, Donald Trump is hardwired this way.
AP: Is there anything else you would like to add?
CLARKE: As a democracy, we must stand together against this kind of racism, this kind of bigotry, this kind of hatred that comes from the president of the United States and those who surround him. … It is very clear that there was an intention to harm people, to hurt people, with this video. Otherwise, he would not stay for 12 hours.
___ Barrow reported from Atlanta.