The recent social media post shared by former President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the White House, with officials and GOP politicians alike condemning the offensive content. The post, which featured a video comparing former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to apes, was live for 12 hours before it was finally removed.
Michael Wolff, Trump’s biographer, revealed on Inside Trump’s Head that White House officials were taken aback by the post. “I spoke to people in the White House about this, and their view was—you know, actually, let me quote, ‘off his meds,'” Wolff shared. The post was met with public backlash, with even GOP politicians expressing concern about the potential impact on the upcoming midterm elections.
Former Trump chief of staff Mick Mulvaney warned that the post could be disastrous for Republican candidates, particularly those facing tough reelection battles. He noted that vulnerable incumbents were “beside themselves” at the thought of having to defend the video to voters.
Staff members within the White House acknowledged that Trump had crossed a line with the post. According to Wolff, they recognized when Trump had gone too far and speculated that something had pushed him over the edge. The administration attempted to contain the fallout by suggesting that an unnamed staffer had uploaded the video, while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to downplay it as a Lion King reference, despite the film having no apes.
Trump himself tried to distance himself from the controversy, claiming on Air Force One that he hadn’t watched the full clip. He stated, “I looked at it, I saw it, and I just looked at the first part… I didn’t see the whole thing.”
Wolff highlighted Trump’s frequent posts on Truth Social, noting that they often go unnoticed due to the platform’s limited audience. He explained that while media outlets track Trump’s activity, there is a limit to what can be reported. Trump’s erratic posting behavior, which includes sharing dozens of videos in a single session, keeps staff members on edge.
As the fallout from the controversial post continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those working closely with the former president. Despite efforts to contain the situation, the impact of Trump’s social media presence remains a source of concern for both his allies and critics alike.
