Trump Faces Backlash Over Racist Video as Lawmakers Warn of Election Interference and Epstein Ties Surface

President Trump is under fire after sharing a video on social media that depicted former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The video, which was widely condemned by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, has sparked a heated debate over racism and the President's social media habits. According to reports, the video was posted overnight and was quickly deleted, but not before it sparked a wave of criticism from lawmakers, including Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), who called it "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House." Scott, the only Black Republican senator, is a Trump ally, but he was quick to condemn the video, saying it was "racist and unacceptable." The White House defended the video, saying it was related to immigration and was meant to be humorous. However, many lawmakers disagreed, with some calling for the President to apologize for sharing the racist content. The controversy comes as lawmakers are also warning of potential election interference in the upcoming midterms. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) raised concerns on Thursday that there may be a "coordinated effort" to interfere in the elections, citing the President's apparent attempts to intervene in the electoral process. Warner's comments come as the Department of Justice (DOJ) released more than 3 million documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which have exposed the depth of Epstein's interactions with some of the country's and world's most powerful people. The documents have also raised questions about the connections between Epstein and some of the world's most influential leaders. In related news, the World Economic Forum is investigating its chief executive, Børge Brende, over his ties to Epstein. The investigation comes as the organization faces scrutiny over its connections to the convicted sex offender. Despite the controversy, some lawmakers remain optimistic that bipartisan immigration reform is still possible. A small group of lawmakers is looking to the failed 2013 immigration bill as a starting point for new legislation. The bill, which was championed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and John McCain (R-AZ), ultimately failed to pass, but some lawmakers believe it can be used as a model for future reform efforts. As the controversy over the President's video continues to simmer, lawmakers are also turning their attention to the upcoming midterms and the potential for election interference. With concerns over racism, election interference, and Epstein ties dominating the headlines, it remains to be seen how these issues will play out in the coming weeks and months.