Kamala Harris slams White House 'cover-up' after staffer blamed for Obama video

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Vice President Kamala Harris blasted President Donald Trump and the White House for putting all the blame on an employee for posting a racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama on social media.

Taking to X, Harris wrote, “No one believes this cover up from the White House, especially since they originally defended the post. We are all clear-eyed about who Donald Trump is and what he believes.”

White House calls controversial video 'an internet meme'

The 61-year-old politician’s statement was in response to the now-deleted clip that showed the former first couple as apes. A nearly a minute-long video insisted on Trump’s claim of the 2020 election fraud that he lost to Joe Biden.

However, the footage ended with the Obamas’ faces superimposed on the heads of cartoon apes with the song ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ by The Tokens playing in the background.

The White House first defended the social media post shared late Thursday, February 5. On February 6 morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from ‘The Lion King.’ Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

White House blamed an unnamed staffer for video

However, after the backlash, including from Republicans, the video was taken down shortly before noon on Friday.

A White House official told NBC News, “A White House staffer erroneously made the post. It has been taken down.”

Later on Friday night, while speaking with reporters on the way to Palm Beach, Florida, aboard Air Force One, Trump justified himself, saying, “I looked in the first part and it was really about voter fraud in, and the machines, how crooked it is, how disgusting it is. Then I gave it to the people. Generally, they'd look at the whole thing.”

“But I guess somebody didn’t, and they posted. We took it down as soon as we found out about it,” he added.

The president, however, asserted that he won’t apologize since he “didn’t make a mistake. I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine.”

Trump supporters ask him to apologize

But many GOP lawmakers and Trump supporters have continued to demand an apology from him. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa, posted on X, “Racism and hatred have no place in our country—ever. They divide our people and weaken the foundations of our democracy. History leaves no doubt: when division is inflamed by those in positions of power, the consequences are real and lasting.”

“Whether intentional or careless, this post is a grave failure of judgment and is absolutely unacceptable from anyone—most especially from the President of the United States. A clear and unequivocal apology is owed,” he added.

Senator John Curtis, R-Utah, shared, “The post was blatantly racist and inexcusable. It should never have been posted or left published for so long.”

Mark Burns, a South Carolina pastor and longtime Trump supporter, added, “The President made it clear to me that this post was made by a staffer and not by him. My recommendation to the President was direct and firm. That staffer should be fired immediately, and the President should publicly condemn this action.”

“Racism must be confronted, not excused. Accountability matters. And leaders must always speak clearly when lines are crossed,” Burns stated.