President Donald Trump has faced intense criticism after posting a racist video clip of the Obamas on social media, forcing him to backtrack even if only by degrees. The chaotic White House response initially dismissed the criticism as “fake outrage” but eventually led to the removal of the clip.
The incident shows that President Trump is not always immune to politics and can be forced to pull back at key moments. In the past, he has demonstrated a pattern of snapping back to his original stance after backtracking under pressure from his aides. However, this time, deleting the clip may have been an unexpected climbdown for him.
Despite initial claims that the controversy was overblown, many Republicans eventually joined in condemning the video, including Senator Tim Scott and other party leaders. The White House later shifted blame to an unknown “staffer,” but President Trump maintained he did not realize his mistake and declined to apologize.
The incident highlights growing concerns among Republicans about Mr. Trump’s handling of key issues like the economy and immigration, which typically have been strengths for the party. Several strategists warned that Mr. Trump is losing support on these topics, particularly with minority communities.
As the midterms approach, President Trump has found himself forced to backtrack at key moments, offering a glimpse into the country’s tolerance for his behavior. The incident may be a sign of changing attitudes among Republicans toward their leader.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/us/politics/trump-social-post-reaction.html