Former President Donald Trump privately lambasted two Republican senators last weekend for their public condemnation of a racist video he shared that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, according to sources familiar with his comments reported by CNN.
Private Anger Over Public Criticism
Trump removed the video after facing widespread backlash from both Democrats and Republicans, but he refused to apologize for sharing it. Instead, he reportedly directed his frustration toward Senators Katie Britt of Alabama and Tim Scott of South Carolina, who had spoken out against the content.
Senator Tim Scott's Response
Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, wrote on social media platform X, "Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House." A senior Trump administration official told CNN that Trump felt Scott could have addressed the matter privately, stating, "He was like, ‘We work together all the time. He didn’t need to comment publicly.’"
Harsher Words for Senator Katie Britt
Sources indicated that Trump had far harsher words for Senator Britt, allegedly claiming during an expletive-laden tirade that she was "dead to him." However, Britt's office dismissed this as "fake news" and praised her working relationship with Trump. The White House later clarified to CNN that Trump has "great respect" for Britt, calling her an "incredible ally."
History of Racist Content and Deflections
Trump has a history of sharing racist comments and content, but this video, which portrayed his predecessor as a chimpanzee and the former first lady as a gorilla, crossed a line for multiple GOP lawmakers. The White House later claimed it was accidentally shared by an unnamed staffer, and Trump told reporters he hadn't even seen the racist portion of the video.
"I didn’t make a mistake," Trump said last week. "I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine." While aides such as Natalie Harp and Dan Scavino reportedly have access to Trump's social media accounts, Trump appeared to show less ire for the alleged unnamed staffer than for the public criticism from senators.
Political Fallout and Reactions
Far-right activist Laura Loomer announced last Friday that she was "compiling a list" of every GOP senator who "attacked" Trump with "false" accusations of racism. Scott and Britt were both in Palm Beach, Florida, for the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s winter retreat when Trump fumed about them.
According to CNN, Trump did not see Scott or Britt during the retreat. Instead, he hosted senators who hadn't complained about the video, including Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, taking them golfing and inviting them to his Super Bowl watch party.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Republican Party over Trump's rhetoric and the political ramifications of his actions, as lawmakers navigate loyalty to the former president versus public accountability.
