President Donald Trump last weekend privately lambasted two Republican lawmakers for condemning the racist video he shared that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, sources familiar with his comments told CNN.
Trump removed the video amid condemnation from Democrats and Republicans alike, but refused to apologize for sharing it. Instead, he reportedly seethed about criticism from Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).
Scott, who is the only Black Republican senator, had written on X, “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
“The president felt he could’ve handled that matter privately,” a senior Trump administration official told CNN about the president’s issue with Scott. “He was like, ‘We work together all the time. He didn’t need to comment publicly.’”
The president reportedly had far harsher words for Britt, claiming during an expletive-laden tirade that she was dead to him, one of the sources recalled to CNN. Her office told the outlet Friday that this is “fake news” and extolled her working relationship with Trump.
The White House later told CNN that Trump has “great respect” for Britt, calling her an “incredibly ally.”
Left: Alex Brandon/Associated Press; Right: Allison Robbert/Associated Press
Trump has shared racist comments and content before, but the video depicting his predecessor as a chimpanzee and the former first lady as a gorilla crossed the line for multiple GOP lawmakers. The White House later said it was accidentally shared by an unnamed staffer, and Trump told reporters he hadn’t even seen the video’s racist portion.
“I didn’t make a mistake,” he 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 have less ire for the alleged unnamed staffer than he reportedly had for the public criticism.
“No, I haven’t [taken action against them],” Trump said Thursday without identifying anyone. “That was a video on, as you know, voter fraud, a fairly long video, and they had a little piece, and it had to do with the ‘Lion King.’ It’s been very well, it’s been shown all over the place long before that was posted.”
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 reportedly both in Palm Beach, Florida last weekend for the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s winter retreat when Trump fumed about them. According to CNN, Trump didn’t see them — instead, he hosted senators who hadn’t complained abou the video, including Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), taking them golfing and inviting them to his Super Bowl watch party.
