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President Donald Trump on Friday removed a video from his Truth Social account that included a racist clip depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, following intense criticism from Democrats, Republicans and civil rights leaders. Trump declined to apologize, insisting he had not viewed the full video before it was posted and blaming a staff member for the error.

The roughly 62-second video, shared late Thursday night, promoted long-debunked claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. At its conclusion, the footage abruptly shifted to a brief animated segment — apparently AI-generated — showing the Obamas’ faces superimposed onto cartoon apes dancing in a jungle setting. The clip played over the 1961 song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens. The segment lasted only a few seconds before the video ended.

The post remained visible for nearly 12 hours before being deleted around midday Friday, as outrage mounted. White House officials initially defended the share, describing it as part of an “internet meme” portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle” with various Democrats depicted as animals from “The Lion King.” Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an early statement that the content highlighted Trump’s dominance in politics.

Bipartisan condemnation came swiftly. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the only Black Republican in the Senate, called the depiction “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” He urged Trump to remove the post and issue an apology, emphasizing that such imagery perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

Other Republicans, including Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., labeled the content “unacceptable” and “racist,” calling for its immediate removal. Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Cory Booker, condemned the video as a continuation of dehumanizing rhetoric directed at the nation’s first Black president and first lady.

Civil rights organizations were among the most vocal critics. The NAACP described the imagery as invoking “centuries-old racist tropes used to dehumanize Black people,” tracing the comparison of Black individuals to apes or monkeys back to the era of slavery and segregation. The Southern Poverty Law Center noted that such depictions have historically served to justify discrimination and violence.

The Obamas did not immediately comment publicly. Representatives for the former president and first lady said they were aware of the incident but declined further statement at this time.

Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon outside the White House, Trump addressed the controversy directly. Asked if he would apologize, he replied, “No, I didn’t make a mistake.” He added that he had only seen the beginning of the video before it was posted by a staffer and was unaware of the offensive ending. “It was fine until that part,” he said, referring to the main election-related content.

Trump condemned the racist clip itself when pressed further, saying, “Of course I do,” but maintained that the error lay with the staff member responsible for the post. A White House official later confirmed the video was “erroneously” shared and had been taken down.

The incident occurred during the first week of Black History Month, amplifying criticism that the imagery was particularly insensitive. Historians and scholars have long documented how portrayals of Black people as primates were weaponized during the Jim Crow era and earlier to deny humanity and justify oppression.

The video appeared to originate from a longer meme shared on X (formerly Twitter) in October by a conservative account. That original clip depicted several prominent Democrats — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others — as various animals, with Trump as a lion receiving bows from the group. Trump shared only the portion featuring the Obamas as apes.

Social media experts noted that Truth Social, Trump’s platform, has fewer content moderation controls than mainstream sites, allowing such material to spread quickly among his followers before wider scrutiny. The post garnered significant engagement before deletion, with thousands of reposts and comments.

The episode marks a rare instance of the Trump White House walking back a social media share. Previous controversies involving Trump’s posts have typically been defended or ignored rather than removed. The deletion followed pressure from within his own party, highlighting the political risk of the content amid efforts to broaden appeal.

Public reaction was swift on social media and in traditional outlets. Clips of news coverage circulated widely, with commentators from across the spectrum decrying the imagery. Some supporters dismissed the backlash as overreaction to a “meme,” while others expressed disappointment.

The timing coincides with ongoing political tensions between Trump and Obama, who has criticized the current administration on issues ranging from democracy to foreign policy. Obama has remained active in public life through his foundation and occasional speeches.

White House aides said internal reviews would be conducted to prevent similar incidents. No disciplinary action against the staffer was announced.

The controversy overshadowed other developments in the administration’s early days, including policy announcements and international engagements. It also renewed discussions about the role of social media in amplifying divisive content and the responsibilities of public figures in vetting shared material.

As of Saturday morning, no further statements had come from Trump or the White House on the matter. The deleted post’s link now redirects to a generic Truth Social page.

The incident underscores persistent racial sensitivities in American politics, particularly around depictions of Black leaders. For many observers, it served as a reminder of how historical tropes can resurface in modern digital contexts, even at the highest levels of government.

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is poised to deliver what could be the company’s most impressive battery performance yet, with rumors pointing to a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 milliamp-hours and significant efficiency gains from a next-generation 2-nanometer chip, according to supply chain reports circulating in early February 2026.

The details emerged from a prominent Chinese leaker known as Digital Chat Station, who cited information from Apple’s supply chain partners. The claims were first reported by MacRumors on Feb. 6, 2026, and quickly picked up by outlets including Mashable, 9to5Mac, AppleInsider and others in the tech press. If accurate, the upgrade would build on the already class-leading battery life of the current iPhone 17 Pro Max, which has been praised for lasting through heavy use without needing a midday charge.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 5,088 mAh battery in its eSIM-only configuration and approximately 4,823 mAh in models with a physical nano-SIM slot. The rumored iPhone 18 Pro Max would offer a modest increase in raw capacity — roughly 2% to 3.67% depending on the variant — but the real gains are expected to come from power efficiency improvements in Apple’s forthcoming A20 Pro processor.

The A20 Pro is anticipated to be fabricated using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s advanced 2nm process node, a step down from the 3nm technology used in the A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone 17 series. Smaller process nodes typically allow for lower power consumption at similar or higher performance levels, meaning the new chip could squeeze more runtime out of every milliamp-hour of battery capacity.

Analysts and leakers have suggested the combination could push the iPhone 18 Pro Max toward 40 hours or more of real-world usage in mixed scenarios, potentially allowing many users to go 1.5 to 2 full days between charges even with intensive tasks like video streaming, gaming and AI features. Mashable’s report described the potential outcome as “impressive battery life,” noting that “a big battery paired with new chip equals success.”

The device is also expected to be slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor to accommodate the larger cell without compromising other design elements. Previous rumors from late 2025 indicated the iPhone 18 Pro Max could become one of Apple’s heaviest iPhones ever, possibly weighing around 243 grams — about 3 grams more than the record-holding iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Battery improvements have become a key selling point for Apple’s flagship models in recent years. The iPhone 17 Pro Max earned top honors in independent tests, including a CNET comparison that pitted it against 34 other smartphones and declared it the endurance champion. Reviewers and users have reported exceptional all-day performance, often with significant headroom remaining at bedtime even after extended screen-on time.

Apple has historically prioritized software optimizations, efficient silicon and conservative battery sizing over chasing headline-grabbing mAh figures seen in some Android competitors. While devices from brands like Samsung, Xiaomi and Honor frequently exceed 6,000 mAh — and some reach 10,000 mAh in specialized models — Apple’s approach has focused on balanced performance, thermal management and longevity.

The rumored capacity bump for the iPhone 18 Pro Max remains modest compared to those rivals, but the efficiency leap from the 2nm process could close the gap in practical use. Some reports speculate the phone could comfortably exceed 40 hours of battery life under typical conditions, though exact figures will depend on final hardware tuning, iOS optimizations and real-world variables like screen brightness, network conditions and app usage.

The battery differences between regional variants are noteworthy. Models sold in markets requiring a physical SIM slot — such as China — are expected to house around 5,000 mAh or slightly more, while global eSIM-only versions could reach 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. This mirrors the pattern seen in recent iPhone generations, where eSIM designs free up internal space for larger cells.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is part of a broader 2026 lineup that includes several changes to Apple’s traditional release strategy. Reports from Nikkei Asia and others indicate Apple will prioritize premium models this year, launching the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the long-rumored first foldable iPhone — tentatively called the iPhone Fold — in September 2026. The standard iPhone 18 and a potential lower-cost variant may be delayed until spring 2027, reportedly due to memory chip shortages and a focus on higher-margin devices.

The foldable model is itself expected to feature an even larger battery, possibly in the 5,400 to 5,800 mAh range, to support its 7.8-inch unfolded display. However, the larger screen could offset some of those gains through higher power draw.

Beyond battery, other rumored upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro Max include a refined Camera Control button, a 24-megapixel front camera, potential variable aperture on the main rear sensor and continued advancements in Apple Intelligence features powered by the A20 Pro’s neural engine capabilities. Design changes are expected to be minimal, with no major overhauls anticipated.

Apple has not commented on the rumors, and the company typically avoids discussing unannounced products. Supply chain leaks of this nature often prove directionally accurate but can shift as prototypes evolve and final decisions are made closer to production.
Tech observers note that while the battery capacity increase appears incremental, the efficiency story could be the bigger narrative. The 2nm process represents a meaningful advancement in semiconductor technology, potentially delivering double-digit percentage improvements in power efficiency over previous nodes.

For consumers who rely on their iPhone as an all-day companion — for work, navigation, photography, streaming and emerging AI tasks — the rumored enhancements could make the iPhone 18 Pro Max particularly appealing. Early reactions on social media and forums have been mixed: some praise the continued focus on endurance, while others express disappointment that the raw mAh figure isn’t more aggressive.

As the September 2026 launch approaches, more details are expected to surface about the full iPhone 18 family, including pricing, display specs and camera hardware. For now, the battery rumors position the Pro Max as a strong contender for best-in-class longevity in Apple’s lineup.

Sunil Sanghai, Founder and CEO of NovaaOne Capital Pvt. Ltd, believes the target strikes the right balance between growth support and macro stability, especially in a year marked by tax cuts and constrained revenues.

In this ETMarkets Smart Talk, Sanghai explains why the deficit number is a positive for markets, highlights the importance of capex exceeding borrowing, and points to hidden structural reforms, from banking to FEMA guidelines, that could support long-term capital formation. Edited excerpts:

Kshitij Anand: What exactly do you feel about the Budget?

Sunil Sanghai: As you rightly mentioned, it was a Sunday, but I would say the Sunday was well spent. A number of things have happened in the Budget, particularly for practitioners like us who are connected with the capital market. I would split this into three parts.

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First, look at the fiscal aspect. The fiscal deficit is bang on target at 4.4%. Last year, we did better than our target. Going forward, the expectation is 4.3%, and the market was expecting somewhere around 4.3% or 4.2%. So, we are well within the range. There is a bit of confusion around the gross borrowing number, which I believe will get reconciled as we go along. We really have a weekend to assess this.
As far as certain aspects impacting the market are concerned, particularly STT, if you look at it in totality, the buyback option, which was taken out earlier, is now back, and the market was requiring it. However, I would put a rider on buybacks and request SEBI to review its regulations. SEBI had earlier cut down the available methods to just one. There were two methods, open market and tender route. The open market route was effectively removed, leaving only the tender route, which was not taken up because, from a taxation perspective, it did not make sense. So, we would request SEBI to step in now and bring the open market buyback back again, as that would act as a counterbalancing factor.
Third, as far as corporates are concerned, there are a number of initiatives. One example is data centres. If anybody sets up a data centre in India, there is a tax holiday up to 2047, which could be very attractive for global players and will have a big impact on FDI.
In totality, we need to put this in perspective. The Budget has now become a much more routine exercise compared to what it was 30 years ago. I have been watching Budgets since 1983. At that time, everything used to be announced in the Budget. Now, direct taxes are taken care of outside the Budget. Direct tax reforms were addressed last year, and indirect taxes have been addressed now. A lot of policy announcements also happen outside the Budget. As a result, it has become a much more limited exercise now.

Kshitij Anand: Let me get your perspective on the macro front. Does the 4.3% fiscal deficit target strike the right balance between growth support and macro stability?

Sunil Sanghai: Very good question. Again, let me put this in perspective. The 4.3% target, as I mentioned earlier, is in line with what the market was expecting. We need to read this along with the capex numbers. Capex has gone up by 8 to 9%. Yes, the expectation in some commentary was for more than 20%, but of course there are constraints on the revenue side.

We are in a year where there has been a double tax cut, direct tax last year and GST this year. Revenue growth is expected to be subdued, with a revenue growth target of around 10.4% for next year. Lower inflation also plays a role, as it impacts nominal GDP and, in turn, revenue growth. Given all these constraints, a 4.3% fiscal deficit is, in my view, remarkable and clearly a positive.

If I may take another minute to add a few specific reforms, some of these are somewhat hidden and need to be brought out. One very interesting mention was banking sector reform, with a comprehensive review being set up for the sector. Going back to banking sector reforms, long ago we took a call that corporates would not be allowed into banking, and foreign banks would not be allowed to acquire Indian banks. That stance has already started to change. I hope this comprehensive review includes all of that, because we need capital in the banking system. For the growth of the economy, we need larger banks, and the government and capital markets alone cannot keep supporting them. We need large pools of capital flowing into the banking sector. Therefore, a review of ownership, voting rights, promoters, and related aspects is a very positive step.

The second point was around RBI’s FEMA guidelines for non-debt instruments, essentially equity, which directly impacts FDI. There are several valuation-related aspects involved here. These guidelines were originally set up in 2014 to 2015 and have not been comprehensively reviewed since. They have been irritants for both inflows and outflows of foreign direct investment. Addressing these issues, as mentioned in the Budget, is a very positive development.

Kshitij Anand: On a scale of one to five, how would you rate this Budget, with five being the best and one the lowest?

Sunil Sanghai: Instead of rating it, I would rather point out areas I would have liked to see addressed. Gold is one such area that we should, at some point, start looking at. This can also be done outside the Budget, but it has implications for foreign exchange, savings, and several other factors.

As far as the fiscal side is concerned, this government has been very focused on fiscal discipline and has done quite well despite increases in capital and defence expenditure. This time, capex is actually higher than borrowing, which is a positive sign. Typically, capex is lower than borrowing. We are also moving in the right direction on the debt-to-GDP ratio. There are still areas we need to work on, and this is an ongoing process. The Budget is just one exercise; it is not everything.

Kshitij Anand: So, from your side, would that be three out of five or four out of five?

Sunil Sanghai: I would say it is a balanced Budget and a continuation of what we have been doing. Expectations are always very high, but we need to appreciate that the scope of the Budget is now quite limited. It is not what it used to be 10 years ago.

Also Read | Quant MF cuts gold, silver exposure near peak levels in multi-asset fund

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

Bitcoin staged a defiant recovery Friday, recapturing the psychological $70,000 threshold after a harrowing 24-hour period that saw the digital asset suffer its steepest one-day decline since the collapse of the FTX exchange in 2022.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency climbed more than 11% to trade as high as $71,600, according to CoinDesk data, providing much-needed relief to a market that had been in a state of freefall. The rebound follows a “Black Thursday” for crypto investors, during which Bitcoin’s price cratered to an intraday low of $60,057.

The recovery has reignited debates among Wall Street strategists regarding the asset’s bottom. While some warn of a “Crypto Winter” in 2026, others maintain that the structural foundations of the market—bolstered by institutional ETFs—could propel Bitcoin back toward $100,000 before the year is out.

Anatomy of a Crash: What Triggered the $60,000 Test?

The midweek rout wiped out more than $500 billion in total crypto market capitalization in just seven days. Several factors converged to create a “perfect storm” of selling pressure:

• Macroeconomic Anxiety: Uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path and the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair has pushed investors toward “risk-off” assets.
• ETF Outflows: Data from Deutsche Bank revealed that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw over $3 billion in withdrawals in January, signaling a cooling of the “Bitcoin Boomer” adoption phase.
• Mass Liquidations: Nearly $1 billion in leveraged long positions were liquidated within 24 hours on Thursday, creating a cascade effect that forced prices lower.
• Corporate Exposure: Shares of “Bitcoin Treasury” companies like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) plummeted as the market realized many of their recent purchases were “underwater,” with an average acquisition price reportedly around $76,000.

‘Capitulation’ or ‘Buying Opportunity’?

The sharp bounce from $60,000 suggests that significant “buy the dip” demand remains. Julio Moreno, head of research at CryptoQuant, noted that buying volume surged as prices touched the $60,000 level, a sign of institutional or “whale” accumulation.

“It seems like a relief rally after the share-price decline of the last few days,” Moreno told MarketWatch. “In the futures market, the open interest declined while prices increased, which suggests short positions were closed or liquidated.”

However, the road ahead remains fraught with technical hurdles. Bitcoin is still down roughly 43% from its record intraday high of $126,272 reached in October 2025. For many retail investors who entered the market during the post-election surge in late 2024, the current “recovery” to $70,000 still leaves them deep in the red.

The 2026 Outlook: Price Predictions and Targets

Despite the recent carnage, the long-term sentiment among crypto-native analysts remains cautiously optimistic.

“From a sentiment perspective, comparisons across cycles are always imperfect, but anecdotally there is an outsized sense of fear and fatigue,” wrote Sean Farrell, head of digital assets at Fundstrat. Farrell noted he is increasing net long exposure but leaving “wiggle room” for another potential dip into the $50,000s if macro conditions worsen.

The ‘Trump Effect’ Fades

The 2026 slump has notably erased all gains made since President Trump’s election in November 2024. While the administration’s pro-crypto rhetoric initially fueled a massive rally, the lack of movement on key legislation—such as the stablecoin bill—and concerns over conflict-of-interest investigations into Trump-related crypto ventures like World Liberty Financial have dampened investor enthusiasm.

As of Saturday, Bitcoin continues to consolidate around the $70,000 mark. Traders are closely watching the $75,000 resistance level; a break above this could signal the end of the “mini-bear” market, while a failure to hold $68,000 could lead to a retest of the week’s lows.