In a significant incident on Friday, February 6, 2026, the White House attributed a racist social media publication from President Donald Trump’s official account to an administrative error by a staff member. The controversial post, which depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama using dehumanizing monkey imagery, was swiftly removed following its publication.
A White House official confirmed to AFP that the content was posted erroneously and emphasized its immediate removal from the platform. This explanation contrasted sharply with the response from President Trump’s personal spokeswoman, who had previously dismissed public criticism of the post as ‘fake outrage’ before the White House’s official statement.
The incident occurs amidst ongoing political tensions and highlights the sensitive nature of official communications from the highest levels of government. The rapid removal suggests internal recognition of the post’s inappropriate nature, though the conflicting narratives from different administration officials have created ambiguity regarding the incident’s origins and the administration’s stance on such content.
This event raises questions about social media protocols within the White House communications team and the vetting processes for content published under the president’s official designation. The response demonstrates the ongoing challenges in managing official government communications in the digital age, where content can spread rapidly before proper review mechanisms can be implemented.