GOP Rep. Lawler says image posted by Trump mocking Obamas was 'racist'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

February 8, 2026, 11:41 AM


New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler reiterated his criticism of President Donald Trump on Sunday after a post from Trump last week included a racist animation of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama depicted as apes.

"I think sometimes in our public discourse it is best to just say, 'I'm sorry,'" Lawler told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

Lawler, who was one of the first Republicans to criticize Trump over the post on Friday, said that he is taking the White House at its word that the post was a "mistake" made by a staffer.

Lawler added that whoever originally created the meme "is an idiot."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gop-rep-lawler-image-posted-trump-mocking-obamas/story?id=129964153

[RandySF]

1. Again I ask a Republican

What will you do about it?

[JoseBalow]

2. Sad that this is what passes as "news" these days

How far we have fallen.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

3. MAGA in California was holding up a "Blacks ate apes" sign. Trumps behavior gives permission

https://www.reddit.com/r/orangecounty/comments/1qzht0b/maga_racist_in_costa_mesa/

nubbinator
OP
•
6h ago
I've driven by this house many times on 22nd in Costa Mesa. There's always a MAGA, Let's Go Brandon, or other MAGA codes flags out front. Today, I drove by and saw him out front holding a red sign that said "Blacks Are Apes". Someone called the cops and the police were out front taking to him. By the time we circled back to get a picture, the sign was gone. I wish I had been able to get the picture so people could know what a terrible person he is.



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u/Awatts2222 avatar
Awatts2222
•
6h ago
But really this is a story about what their leader does-

this in turn gives his followers permission. We live in disgusting times.

[FakeNoose]

4. So now it's a mistake made by a staffer ... did somebody lose their job over this?

If nobody was punished then it's going to happen again .... and again ... and again ... ad nauseum.

[Norrrm]

5. NOT a "mistake" made by a staffer! Trump approved it.

The 'staffer' can say he did not watch it all.

He was just following orders.

??? Not really.

[Martin68]

7. It actually could have been a staffer. Our president is suffering from mental illness and dementia. He has no control

over the racists and thugs he hired to do stuff for him. What difference does it make? The buck stops at Trump's desk. HE'S THE PRESIDENT.

[Martin68]

6. Shocking! A Republican acknowledges posting a picture of the Obamas looking like apes is racist!

[hibbing]

8. Wow, profile in courage /s

[Miguelito Loveless]

9. 'Yes, Trump is a racist,

and a rapist, but I will keep supporting him anyway.”

[fujiyamasan]

10. This guy is definitely vulnerable

“ With a Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI) rating of D+1, it is one of three congressional districts nationwide with a Democratic Cook PVI rating but a Republican representative;”

Year Office Results[9]
2008 President Obama 53% - 46%
2012 President Obama 53% - 47%
2016 President Clinton 52% - 44%
Senate Schumer 63% - 35%
2018 Senate Gillibrand 60% - 40%
Governor Cuomo 54% - 43%
Attorney General James 57% - 40%
2020 President Biden 54% - 44%
2022 Senate Schumer 52% - 48%
Governor Zeldin 52% - 48%
Attorney General James 50.4% - 49.6%
Comptroller DiNapoli 52% - 48%
2024 President Harris 50% - 49%
Senate Gillibrand 55% - 45%

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York%27s_17th_congressional_district

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Yup

that's why he popped up on the Sunday shows to try to save his hide. He's skating on thin ice like Brian Fitzpatrick (R) here in SE PA (PA-1 just outside of Philly)