'Are you for real?' GOP senator under fire for response to Trump taking down racist post

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) found himself on the receiving end of even more derision on Friday night over his comments on a racist video shared by President Donald Trump.

The 79-year-old president shared a video created by the conservative Patriot News Outlet that had an image of Barack and Michelle Obama's smiling faces superimposed on the bodies of apes in a jungle, with a clip of the 1961 song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The post shocked the consciences of even some Republican allies.

The post was eventually taken down.

But Cassidy — already the subject of widespread condemnation over his decision to cast a pivotal vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services — found himself under fire again when he thanked Trump for taking the post down.

"Thank you to President Trump for taking down the post about the Obamas," wrote Cassidy on X. "He made significant inroads with his outreach in the African American community which we need to continue. His post sent the wrong message despite how it may have been originally intended."

Cassidy's tepid criticism led to immediate ridicule on social media.

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was slain in the Parkland school shooting, hit back on X.

"Are you for real? He knowingly posted racist trash. Racism is in his DNA. And you thank him? You pathetic enablers are an embarrassment to America. Your tweet reinforces for me that the enablers are the problem. In 9 months, America will vote you back to the minority."

X commentator Lynn G. Henning added, "Is this a remotely serious response from an allegedly substantive Senator?"

Janice Hough, a supporter of Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, wrote on X, "How it was 'originally intended?' It was intended to be racist and hateful. Just like most of what he does. For shame Dr. Cassidy, for shame."

Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of the progressive outlet Meidas Touch, chided on X, "I found the dumbest most pathetic post on the internet today."

TV Anchor Pedro Andrade simply wrote, "Pathetic."

Dr. Drew Timmons wrote, "One of the worst Tweets of all time. Incredible how bad this is."

California congressional candidate Eric Garcia wrote, "How do republicans stand up without a spine?"

Comedian Tom Ryan wrote on X, "Quick question Senator Cassidy. Did removing the post undo the impact of the original post? It didn't and you know it didn't."