Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Says Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Since a racist video was posted on President Donald Trump’s social media account, the White House has offered shifting responses.

He first dismissed the “false outrage,” then deleted the post and blamed a staff member.

Trump later told reporters on Friday that “I didn’t make a mistake.” The Republican president insisted that before the video was released, no one saw the part that showed former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as primates in the jungle.

But the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus had a different explanation when she spoke to The News.

“It’s very clear that there was an intent to harm people, to hurt people, with this video,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y.

The AP interviewed Clarke, who leads the caucus of more than 60 Black members of the House and Senate, hours after the video was removed Friday, and she was unsparing in her criticism. “As my mother would say, ‘Too late. Mercy is gone,'” Clarke said.

via News

Here is a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity:

AP: What was your reaction when you saw the post?

CLARKE: We are dealing with an intolerant and racist regime. …Every week, as the American people, we find ourselves in a position where we have to respond to something very cruel or extremely unpleasant that this administration does. It’s part of his modus operandi at the moment.

AP: Do you believe the White House’s explanation that it was an aide’s mistake?

CLARKE: They’re not telling the truth. If there wasn’t a climate, a toxic, racist climate within the White House, we wouldn’t see this type of behavior no matter who it comes from. … Here we are, in the year 2026, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the 100th anniversary of the commemoration of Black history, and this is what comes out of the White House on a Friday morning. It is beneath all of us.

AP: Has there been any contact between the White House and the Congressional Black Caucus on this issue? Could there be some good faith exchange?

CLARKE: There has been no communication from the White House. We certainly didn’t expect there to be. The rapprochement has to happen before these types of youthful antics.

AP: Republican criticism rose more rapidly Friday than during previous Trump controversies. What do you think about that?

CLARKE: It is not lost on them, on our communities that we represent, that the election is approaching. So it’s not lost on my colleagues either. If they want to align themselves with this kind of really profane imagery, this kind of bigoted, racist attack on a former sitting president and his wife, they are throwing in their lot with an individual who has proven to be a disgrace.

AP: It’s not common for President Trump to retract anything. What does that tell you that he did?

CLARKE: I think it’s more of a political expediency than a moral compass. …As my mother would say, “Too late. Mercy is gone.”

AP: What else do you expect to see from the White House on this?

CLARKE: My hope is that we can contain the damage they are causing. There are black kids who listen to their president… see what he posts on Truth Social (and) that will impact how they view the leadership of their own country. … I think this administration has an opportunity to change course. They always do it. We leave room for that. But, unfortunately, Donald Trump is programmed this way.

AP: Is there anything else you would like to add?

CLARKE: As a democracy, we have to stand together against this kind of racism, this kind of bigotry, this kind of hatred that comes from the president of the United States and those around him. … It is very clear that there was an intention to harm people, to hurt people, with this video. Otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed awake for 12 hours.

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Barrow reported from Atlanta.