00:00President Donald Trump posted a series of social media messages Wednesday, highlighting
00:04past interactions with prominent black celebrities days after deleting a controversial video
00:08involving former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
00:13In multiple posts, Trump shared images and video clips showing him alongside figures
00:17including boxer Mike Tyson, music executive Sean Diddy Combs, and pop star Michael Jackson.
00:23How quickly people forget.
00:24So sad.
00:25President DJT, Trump wrote in one post. Another post titled A Timeline of Trump's Bigotry
00:30featured a compilation-style video including images of Trump greeting black supporters,
00:34appearing with Oprah Winfrey, shaking hands with Will Smith, and spending time with rapper Snoop Dogg.
00:39A separate clip resurfaced Trump's 1988 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, during which he discussed
00:45US foreign policy and trade. One shared video referenced Trump's past public support for
00:49Michael Jackson during legal controversies the singer faced. The social media activity followed
00:54backlash over a previously shared video in which the faces of Barack and Michelle Obama
00:58were digitally superimposed onto animated ape characters. The post drew criticism from lawmakers
01:03in both parties, including Senator Tim Scott, who called it deeply offensive. White House Press
01:08Secretary Caroline Levitt initially described the video as an internet meme referencing The Lion King.
01:13The post was later removed, and the White House said a staff member had shared it in error.
01:17Comparisons of black individuals to apes have historically been used as racist imagery,
01:21contributing to criticism of the post. Throughout his political career, Trump has faced scrutiny for
01:26comments and actions involving race, including promoting false claims about Obama's birthplace,
01:31and criticizing athletes protesting racial injustice. When asked about the deleted video,
01:35Trump told reporters he did not believe he had made a mistake, describing the post as focused on
01:39election-related issues. Drop your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to like for more breaking political news.
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