WASHINGTON D.C.- Republican Hudson Valley Congressman Mike Lawler has criticized President Donald Trump over his post last week that included a racist animation of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama depicted as apes. 

While the Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Westchester lawmaker said he was taking the White House at its word that the post was a “mistake” made by a staffer, “In our public discourse it is best to just say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and move on.”

Lawler charged: “Whoever created the meme was an “idiot.”

The President has refused to apologize, however, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially blasted criticism of the video as ‘fake outrage’ before the White House later blamed it on a staffer and deleted the post about 12 hours after it went online.

Lawler, who in the past has been critical of the President, added: “I think the vast majority of Americans recognize that that type of imagery, and trying to, you know, compare, the first Black president to a gorilla or a monkey, is insensitive; it’s offensive; it’s racist! Whether it was intentional or a mistake, the fact is: It’s wrong. We should all just be able to acknowledge that and move forward.”