Michael Steele

See you next time.

Donald Trump.

Settle in for this one, folks.

Because he's just reminded the country who he really is.

And this time, even some of his hardcore supporters can't bring themselves to defend him.

Because late last night, on Trump's social media account, he reposted a vile and racist video that depicted our nation's first black president and first lady as apes.

It is an unambiguous play on one of the oldest, country's oldest and most tired, let me tell you how tired it is, racist tropes.

At first, Trump administration did what they always do, defend the president and attack the press.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a statement to reporters, quote, 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.

Quick note for the press secretary.

There are no apes in The Lion King.

And the backlash to Trump's post was swift and severe, especially from House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.

But this time, Trump's racism was so overt, it was even too much for some of his own party.

We saw multiple Republican lawmakers condemn the post.

Some of them even called on Trump to apologize.

Here's what Senator Tim Scott posted, quote, praying it was fake because it's the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House.

President should remove it, end quote.

Praying it was fake?

Before this tweet, surely the senator was well aware of the exonerated five.