Sen. John Curtis condemns "blatantly racist" Obama video posted by Trump
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Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah). Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) on Friday condemned a video posted by President Trump that depicted the Obamas as apes, calling it "blatantly racist and inexcusable."
Why it matters: Curtis and Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), the state's only Black member of Congress, joined other Republicans Friday in slamming the racist video in a rare public rebuke within the GOP.
What they're saying: "It should never have been posted or left published for so long," Curtis said on X, referring to the roughly 12 hours it took for the Truth Social post to be taken down.
- Owens called the video's imagery "wildly offensive and inappropriate" in an X post on Friday, adding that he found it "especially troubling as a Black man."
- Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the chamber's only Black Republican, said Friday that he prayed the post was fake, calling it "the most racist thing I've ever seen out of this White House."
Zoom in: The clip posted during the first week of Black History Month portrayed former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, a racist centuries-old trope against Black people.
- A White House official told Axios the post was made in error by a staffer.
Yes, but: Before the post was deleted on Friday, the White House called criticism of the video "fake outrage," Axios' Kate Santaliz and Andrew Solender report.
- "This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
Catch up quick: Curtis' comments come after he criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last month for what he called her "premature" response to the killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
- Noem initially labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" before an investigation could be concluded, prompting Curtis to call for an independent review into Pretti's death.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a response from Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah).