1. United States
2. S.D.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to publicly denounce the racist video posted on President Trump's Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates, and to call on the president to take full accountability with a direct apology. The 62-second video posted Thursday night included a brief scene at the 60-second mark showing jungle primates with the Obamas' faces superimposed on them. This imagery invokes centuries of racist dehumanization, from 18th century pseudo-scientific theories used to justify slavery to merchandise depicting President Obama as a monkey during his presidency. The post appeared during the first week of Black History Month, just days after Trump issued a proclamation citing "the contributions of black Americans to our national greatness" and "the American principles of liberty, justice, and equality." When asked aboard Air Force One if he condemned the video's racism, Trump said "Of course I do" but maintained "I didn't make a mistake" and refused to apologize. The White House initially dismissed criticism as "fake outrage" before blaming a staffer and removing the post Friday afternoon. This deflection is insufficient given the gravity of the offense. Senate Republicans Tim Scott and Roger Wicker have already called the post unacceptable, with Scott describing it as "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House." Rev. Bernice King reminded the nation that Black Americans "are beloved of God as postal workers and professors, as a former first lady and president. We are not apes." NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the video "utterly despicable." Your constituents deserve representation that stands firmly against racism regardless of party affiliation. I ask you to join Senators Scott and Wicker in publicly condemning this post and demanding President Trump issue a personal apology to the Obamas and all Americans offended by this dehumanizing content. Silence on this matter signals complicity with racism that has no place in American leadership.