Trump Faces Backlash Over Racist Video as Clinton Calls for Public Hearing on Epstein Testimony

President Trump is facing a backlash from within his own party after posting a racist video on social media that depicted former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. The video was posted on Trump's Truth Social account and was later deleted after Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) implored the President to take it down, according to a source familiar with the matter. The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with many Republicans breaking with the White House to condemn the post. Pastor Mark Burns, an ally to President Trump, said that the White House staffer who posted the video "should be fired immediately." Burns added that the President made it clear to him that the post was made by a staffer and not by Trump himself. The controversy comes as the Trump administration faces competing pressure on other fronts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Friday that it would reapprove the use of the herbicide dicamba for use on cotton and soybeans with some restrictions. The decision comes as the Trump administration faces opposition from environmental groups and some lawmakers who argue that the chemical poses a risk to human health and the environment. Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton is calling for a public hearing on his testimony regarding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have said they will testify as part of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's investigation into Epstein. The former President's call for a public hearing comes a day after Hillary Clinton made a similar request. The investigation into Epstein has been ongoing since his death in August 2019. Epstein was a wealthy financier who was convicted of sex trafficking and had ties to several high-profile politicians, including the Clintons and Trump. The investigation has raised questions about the extent of Epstein's connections to these politicians and whether they knew about his illicit activities. In a statement, Senator Tim Scott said that he was "deeply disturbed" by the video posted by Trump and that it was "unacceptable" to use racist imagery to attack the Obamas. Scott's comments were echoed by other Republicans, including Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who also condemned the post. The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the use of social media by politicians and the need for greater accountability. Many have argued that Trump's use of social media has contributed to a coarsening of public discourse and has emboldened racists and extremists. In response to the criticism, the White House has said that the post was made by a staffer and not by Trump himself. However, many have questioned the credibility of this claim, given Trump's history of posting inflammatory content on social media. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will respond to the criticism and whether the President will take steps to address the concerns of his critics. One thing is clear, however: the incident has highlighted the deep divisions within the Republican Party and the ongoing challenges facing the Trump administration. Sources: * CBS News: "Tim Scott implored Trump to take down racist video of Obamas" * The Hill: "GOP breaks with Trump White House on Obama post as Tim Scott opens the floodgates" * Politico: "EPA reapproves herbicide dicamba with some restrictions" * CNN: "Trump-allied pastor: Staffer who posted Obamas video 'should be fired immediately'" * The New York Times: "Bill Clinton calls for public hearing on Epstein testimony"