Three-Time Trump Voter: “All this man does is tell lies. He is not worthy of the presidency. He takes bribes blatantly, and now he’s being a racist blatantly.”

Last night, Donald Trump posted a video on Truth Social that included a racist image depicting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys. Trump has since deleted the post after facing immediate backlash, including from his own party. 

Before the post was deleted, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to justify Trump’s post, claiming that the video “is from an internet meme” and depicted The Lion King, and requested that the public “stop the fake outrage.” The White House later walked back its nonsensical defense, saying a “staffer erroneously made the post” on Trump’s personal account. 

In response, DNC Associate Chair Rep. Joyce Beatty released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump has shown time and again that he is a racist who has no limit to his disgusting rhetoric and beliefs. He has consistently stoked the flames of racism and attempted to divide the nation at every turn. Instead of owning up to Trump’s vile post, the White House flip-flopped on its response, first attempting to justify the video and later blaming an unnamed staffer for Trump’s actions — after disregarding the response as ‘fake outrage.’ There is no excuse for Trump’s abhorrent behavior, and it is long overdue for the rest of the Republican Party to grow a spine and denounce his post.”

Here’s what Trump’s supporters are saying about Trump’s racist post: 

Three-Time Trump Voter: “I voted for Trump, but I really want to apologize. I’m looking at this awful picture of the Obamas. What an embarrassment to our country. All this man does is tell lies. He is not worthy of the presidency. He takes bribes blatantly, and now he’s being a racist blatantly. He’s pathetic as a president, and I just want to apologize to everybody in the country for supporting this rotten, rotten man.”

Senator Tim Scott: “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.”

Rep. Mike Lawler: “The President’s post is wrong and incredibly offensive — whether intentional or a mistake — and should be deleted immediately with an apology offered.”

Senator Roger Wicker: “This is totally unacceptable. The president should take it down and apologize.”

Senator Pete Ricketts: “Even if this was a Lion King meme, a reasonable person sees the racist context to this. The White House should do what anyone does when they make a mistake: remove this and apologize.”

Piers Morgan: “I sincerely hope President @realDonaldTrump didn’t realise this 60-second clip he reposted last night didn’t end with the vile racist imagery of the Obamas as apes. He should delete it immediately.”