President Trump addressed the fallout on Friday, regarding a now-deleted video on his Truth Social account that used racist tropes to depict Barack and Michelle Obama. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the President shifted the responsibility for the post to his team, explaining that the imagery was a result of a staff oversight.
The Breakdown of the Blame:
• Limited Review: Trump stated he only watched the beginning of the clip—which focused on his 2020 election claims—before handing it to staffers to post. “I guess somebody didn’t [look at the whole thing] and they posted it,” he said.
• The “Human Printer”: Inside the White House, attention has turned to aide Natalie Harp, one of only two people with direct access to Trump’s social media. Harp is known as the “Human Printer” for her constant presence by the President’s side.
• No Repercussions: Despite the controversy, Trump indicated he would not fire the person responsible, describing the incident as a mistake where someone “slipped and missed a very small part.”
A Shift in Strategy:
The video was removed after roughly 12 hours, marking a rare reversal for the President. The removal reportedly followed a call from Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, who explicitly condemned the video.
Changing Explanations:
• From the Press Shop: Initially, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the video as a Lion King meme and called the backlash “fake outrage.”
• To the Staffer Error: The administration later pivoted to the “staffer error” explanation that the President repeated to reporters.
