Deadline Detroit | Republican John James on Trump's Racist Posting: 'I'm Glad to See That Trash Has Been Taken Down'
Trump’s account posted the video, and he later said he had not made a mistake.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYDeadline Detroit is a local news publisher, a source type that can provide credible regional reporting. The article identifies its author only with a date and time, while attributing some reporting to the Associated Press and CNN.
- Source type — Local news publisher; a moderate credibility prior.
- Author attribution — No reporter byline is identifiable in the supplied page information.
- Source diversity — The article attributes some details to the Associated Press and CNN and includes quoted public statements.
The brief report includes direct quotations and attributes additional details to the Associated Press and CNN. It provides relevant context but offers limited independent sourcing or broader response.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents condemnation of the post, Leavitt’s explanation, and Trump’s response, though it is brief and gives little space to additional perspectives or context.
- Source diversity — Includes statements from multiple political figures and references reporting by two news outlets.
- Counterarguments presented — Reports Leavitt’s explanation and Trump’s response alongside criticism of the post.
- Omitted context — The short article offers limited detail about how the video was made or the responses beyond those quoted.
The article uses direct quotations and attributes explanations and responses to their sources. Its description of the imagery as racist is supported by the content it describes, rather than by a broader partisan framing.
- Language tone — Mostly factual language, with evaluative remarks quoted and attributed to speakers.
- Source selection — Includes statements from James, Scott, Leavitt and Trump, alongside reporting attributed to AP and CNN.
- Framing — Centers James’s response to the post without advancing an explicit partisan argument.
Rep. John James condemned a racist video posted on President Trump’s Truth Social account, while also defending Trump’s character. The video was removed after about 12 hours, and Trump later said he had not made a mistake.
James said on X that he was “shocked and appalled” by the video, which depicted former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes, and that he was glad it had been taken down. He also wrote that Trump was not racist. James is seeking Trump’s endorsement as he runs for governor.
Sen. Tim Scott also called the post racist and urged Trump to remove it. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a staffer posted the video, which she described as depicting Trump as “King of the Jungle” and the Obamas and other Democrats as characters from “The Lion King.” The article notes that the film includes no characters depicted as apes. Trump refused to apologize, saying, “I didn’t make a mistake,” and later said he condemned the image.
Community verdict
19 VOTESCounts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 16
Votes cast on this page
Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0
People in this story
SWIPE →President whose account posted the video and who later refused to apologize.
Representative and gubernatorial candidate who condemned Trump’s post while defending Trump’s character.
James's version of this story ↗White House press secretary who said a staffer posted the video.
Senator who condemned the post and urged Trump to remove it.
Part of a bigger story
15 OUTLETSOutlets agree that Trump shared a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes and that the post was later removed. Their coverage also reports criticism from lawmakers, including Republicans. Left-leaning outlets foreground lawmakers’ condemnation and use more explicitly critical language. Center outlets report criticism alongside White House explanations and a range of lawmakers’ reactions. Right-leaning outlets similarly pair Tim Scott’s criticism with the White House’s explanation and an adviser’s account, rather than adopting the condemnatory language.
- ARTICLES
- 16
- OUTLETS
- 15
- AVG CRED
- 68
- Yahoo News · Thomas Massie condemns Trump for 'racist' post showing Obamas as apes
- Winnipeg Free Press · Congressional Black Caucus chair says Trump's post on the Obamas shows a 'bigoted and racist regime'
- The Salt Lake Tribune · Utah's U.S. Rep. Owens calls Trump's racist post 'wildly offensive and inappropriate'
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