Republicans condemn Trump's racist video portraying the Obamas as apes

Washington — Republican lawmakers condemned President Trump connected Friday for sharing a video that portrayed erstwhile President Barack Obama and erstwhile archetypal woman Michelle Obama arsenic apes. 

The disapproval continued adjacent aft the White House removed the video aft the archetypal backlash. 

Several GOP lawmakers publically urged the president to region it, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is the lone Black Republican successful the Senate. 

"Praying it was fake due to the fact that it's the astir racist happening I've seen retired of this White House," wrote Scott, who leads Senate Republicans' run arm. "The President should region it." 

White House property caput Karoline Leavitt initially defended the video, which amplified mendacious claims astir the 2020 statesmanlike election. Leavitt said the footage that showed the Obamas' heads edited onto the bodies of apes was portion of an "internet meme video" that portrayed Mr. Trump arsenic "King of the Jungle" and Democrats arsenic characters from the Lion King.  

Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Nebraska Republican, said: "Even if this was a Lion King meme, a tenable idiosyncratic sees the racist discourse to this. The White House should bash what anyone does erstwhile they marque a mistake: region this and apologize." 

GOP Rep. Mike Lawler of New York called the station "wrong and incredibly offensive." Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, said it was "totally unacceptable." Both said Mr. Trump should apologize. 

Several shared their condemnation aft the station — which was shared by Mr. Trump connected Thursday nighttime — was removed Friday afternoon. A White House authoritative said a staffer "erroneously made the post." 

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said it was "appalling." Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, said helium was gladsome the White House removed the "offensive" post. 

Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican, said the video "should person ne'er been posted to statesman with, and is not who we are arsenic a nation." 

Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah shared a akin sentiment arsenic his colleagues, referring to the station arsenic "blatantly racist and inexcusable." 

"It should ne'er person been posted oregon near published for truthful long," Curtis said. 

GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio besides weighed in: "I bash not consciousness the request to respond to each inflammatory connection made by the White House. However, the merchandise of racist images of erstwhile President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama is offensive, bosom breaking, and unacceptable. President Trump should apologize." 

GOP Rep. John James of Michigan, who is Black, defended the president arsenic "not racist," but said helium was "shocked and appalled" by the post. 

"I'm gladsome to spot that trash has been taken down," helium said. 

Kristin Brown contributed to this report.