Republican Tim Scott Calls Donald Trump's Post Of Video That Depicted The Obamas As Apes: "Most Racist Thing I've Seen Out Of This White House"
Trump’s account posted the video, which depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, before it was taken down.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The article appears to be Deadline reporting carried by Yahoo, with an identifiable author and multiple attributed statements. The reporting is professional, though the page does not itself provide much information about corrections practices.
- Source type — The material is associated with an established national news distributor and a recognizable entertainment-news outlet.
- Author attribution — An individual reporter is identified in the article metadata.
- Editorial standards — The story attributes statements to named officials and organizations, but the page offers limited detail about its editorial process.
- Transparency — The article identifies its author and includes a Deadline reference, but does not clearly state the syndication terms.
The story reports the post’s removal and includes statements from several named political figures and the NAACP. It gives limited independent verification or response from the Obamas, and the White House explanation is presented without further examination.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents criticism from Republicans, Democrats and the NAACP, as well as the White House’s defense and explanation. It does not include a direct response from Trump or the Obamas, and its perspectives are mostly reactions to the post.
- Counterarguments presented — The White House defended the video and later said a staffer had made the post erroneously.
- Source diversity — Statements come from officials in both parties and the NAACP.
- Omitted context — The article says the Obamas’ spokesperson did not respond, and includes no direct comment from Trump.
- Loaded language — Strong characterizations appear primarily in quoted statements rather than the reporter’s own voice.
The article uses mostly straightforward language and presents statements condemning the post alongside the White House’s defense. Its descriptions of the video and the responses do not establish a clear partisan lean.
- Language tone — Mostly neutral reporting language; charged characterizations are presented as quotations or attributed statements.
- Source selection — Includes Republican critics, a Democratic leader, the White House and the NAACP.
- Framing — Focuses on responses to the post and its removal without advancing an explicit partisan argument.
Republished with credit
Republished from Deadline, with credit to the original publisher.
27 stories · 68–72 · updated Oct 12, 2026
This is Deadline's own score, and this article is credited to Deadline. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
Sen. Tim Scott called President Donald Trump’s post of a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes racist and urged Trump to remove it. The post was later taken down, with a White House official saying a staffer had posted it erroneously.
Scott wrote that the post was “the most racist thing” he had seen from the White House and said Trump should remove it. Rep. Michael Lawler also called the post wrong and offensive and said Trump should delete it and apologize. The post was later taken down; a White House official said a staffer had made the post erroneously.
Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the video as a meme depicting Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump’s post and criticized Republican leaders for continuing to stand by him. The NAACP also criticized the post.
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
Senate Majority Leader criticized by Jeffries
Representative who criticized Trump’s post
House Minority Leader who condemned Trump’s post
White House press secretary who defended the video
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
- deadlinedetroit.com · Deadline Detroit | Republican John James on Trump's Racist Posting: 'I'm Glad to See That Trash Has Been Taken Down'
- Winnipeg Free Press · Congressional Black Caucus chair says Trump's post on the Obamas shows a 'bigoted and racist regime'
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