Mark Burns, a member of Pastors for Trump, said he personally demanded that President Donald Trump fire a staffer who the White House claimed was responsible for posting a racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama.
In a post to X on Friday, Burns said that he accepted the White House's explanation that the video depicting the Obamas as apes had been posted to Trump's Truth Social account by a member of his staff.
"I just spoke directly with President Trump regarding the offensive Obama ape video that circulated online," Burns wrote. "The President assured me clearly and unequivocally that he did not post it. He understands the painful and racist history in America of depicting African Americans as apes, a tactic long used by white supremacists to demean Black intelligence and humanity. He knows this is wrong, offensive, and unacceptable."
"The President made it clear to me that this post was made by a staffer and not by him. My recommendation to the President was direct and firm. That staffer should be fired immediately, and the President should publicly condemn this action," he continued. "This kind of insensitive and racist communication does not reflect the heart, values, or leadership of the President of the United States, nor does it represent the America we are striving to build."
"Racism must be confronted, not excused. Accountability matters. And leaders must always speak clearly when lines are crossed."
Before claiming that the president had not made the racist post, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the meme.
"This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public," Leavitt said on Friday morning.