NEW YORK (AP) — Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services one year ago, he has defended his upending of federal health policy by saying the changes will restore trust in America’s public health agencies.

But as the longtime leader of the anti-vaccine movement scales back immunization guidance and dismisses scientists and advisers, he’s clashed with top medical groups who say he’s not following the science.

The confrontation is deepening confusion among the public that had already surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys show trust in the agencies Kennedy leads is falling, rather than rising, as the country’s health landscape undergoes dramatic change.

Kennedy says he’s aiming to boost transparency to empower Americans to make their own health choices. Doctors counter that the false and unverified information he’s promoting is causing major, perhaps irreversible, damage — and that if enough people forgo vaccination, it will cause a surge of illness and death.

There was a time when people trusted health agencies regardless of party and the government reported “the best of what science knows at this point,” said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Now, you cannot confidently go to federal websites and know that,” she said.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon argued that trust had suffered during the Biden administration. “Kennedy’s mandate is to restore transparency, scientific rigor, and accountability,” he said.

Trust slid during the COVID pandemic

Historically, federal scientific and public health agencies enjoyed strong ratings in public opinion polls. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for decades scored above many other government agencies in Gallup surveys that asked whether they were doing a “good” or “excellent” job.

Two decades ago, more than 60% of Americans gave the CDC high marks, according to Gallup. But that number fell dramatically at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid agency mistakes and guidance that some people didn’t like.

In 2020, the percentage of Americans who believed the CDC was doing at least a “good” job fell to 40% and then leveled off for the next few years.

Alix Ellis, a hairstylist and mom in Madison, Georgia, used to fully trust the CDC and other health agencies but lost that confidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said some of the guidance didn’t make sense. At her salon, for example, stylists could work directly on someone’s hair, but others in the room had to be several feet away.

“I’m not saying that we were lied to, but that is when I was like, OK, ‘Why are we doing this?’” the 35-year-old said.

Kennedy helped create the trust problem, doctor says

Part of Kennedy’s pitch as health secretary has been restoring Americans’ trust in public health.

“We’re going to tell them what we know, we’re going to tell them what we don’t know, and we’re going to tell them what we’re researching and how we’re doing it,” Kennedy told senators last September, while explaining how he intended to make the CDC’s information reliable. “It’s the only way to restore trust in the agency — by making it trustworthy.”

Before entering politics, Kennedy was one of the loudest voices spreading false information about immunizations. Now, he’s trying to fix a trust problem he helped create, said Dr. Rob Davidson, a Michigan emergency physician.

“You fed those people false information to create the distrust, and now you’re sweeping into power and you’re going to cure the distrust by promoting the same disinformation,” said Davidson, who runs a doctor group called the Committee to Protect Health Care. “It’s upside-down.”

Kennedy has wielded the power of his office to take multiple steps that diverge from medical consensus.

Last May, he announced COVID-19 vaccines were no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, a move doctors called concerning and confusing.

In November, he directed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism, without supplying new evidence. And earlier this year, the CDC under his leadership reduced the number of vaccines recommended for every child, a decision medical groups said would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases.

Kennedy also has overhauled his department through canceled grants and mass layoffs. Last summer, Kennedy fired his new CDC chief after less than a month over disagreements about vaccine policy.

Confusion emerges as trust erodes

Some have applauded the moves. But surveys suggest many Americans have had the opposite reaction.

“I have much less trust,” said Mark Rasmussen, a 67-year-old retiree walking into a mall in Danbury, Connecticut, one recent morning.

Shocked by Kennedy’s dismantling of public health norms, professional medical groups have urged Americans not to follow new vaccine recommendations they say were adopted without public input or compelling evidence.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, along with more than 200 public health and advocacy groups, urged Congress to investigate how and why Kennedy changed the vaccine schedule. The American Medical Association, working with the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project, this week announced a new evidence-based process for reviewing the safety of respiratory virus vaccines — something they say is needed since the government stopped doing that kind of systematic review.

Many Democratic-led states also have rebuffed Kennedy’s policies, even creating their own alliances to counter his vaccine guidance.

“We see burgeoning confusion about which sources to trust and about which sources are real. That makes decision-making on an individual level much harder,” said Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health.

She said she worried the confusion was contributing to the recent rise in diseases like whooping cough and measles, which were once largely eliminated in the U.S.

Surveys indicate growing public wavering over support for the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Although a large majority of people support giving it to children, the proportion declined significantly in just over nine months, according to Annenberg research. An August 2025 survey finds that 82% would be “very” or “somewhat” likely to recommend that an eligible child in their household get MMR vaccine, compared with 90% in November 2024.

Surveys show trust is declining again

New findings from the health care research nonprofit KFF in January show that 47% of Americans trust the CDC “a great deal” or “a fair amount” to provide reliable vaccine information, down about 10 percentage points since the beginning of Trump’s second term.

Trust among Democrats dropped 9 percentage points since September, to 55%, the survey found. Trust among Republicans and independents hasn’t changed since September, but it has declined somewhat among both groups since the beginning of Trump’s term.

Even among MAHA supporters, the poll shows, fewer than half say they trust agencies like the CDC and FDA “a lot” or “some” to make recommendations about childhood vaccine schedules.

Gallup surveys also show a drop in Americans who believe the CDC is doing a “good job,” from 40% in 2024 to 31% last year.

Those results came alongside a decline of trust across the government — not just agencies under Kennedy’s oversight. Yet concerns about Kennedy’s trustworthiness also have emerged in the past year. Documents recently obtained by The Associated Press and The Guardian, for example, undermine his statements that a 2019 trip to Samoa ahead of a measles outbreak had “nothing to do with vaccines.” The documents have prompted senators to assert that Kennedy lied to them over the visit.

HHS officials say they are promoting independent decision-making by families while working to reduce preventable diseases. They say reducing routine vaccine recommendations was meant to ensure parents vaccinate children against the riskiest diseases.

HHS did not make Kennedy available for an interview, despite repeated requests. But as he has pledged to restore trust, he’s also urged people to come to their own conclusions.

“This idea that you should trust the experts,” Kennedy said recently on The Katie Miller Podcast, “a good mother doesn’t do that.”

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AP writer Amelia Thomson DeVeaux in Washington contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Suzanna Shaw died at 60 at her home address on Allington Court, Brocksby Chase, Halliwell last Friday (February 6).

Police said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and have launched a next of kin appeal.

GMP shared the appeal to help trace the relatives of people who have died before establishing a cause of death.

In UK law, there is no legal definition of “next of kin”, but it is usually understood to be the closest relative, whether a partner, parent, child or sibling.

Anyone who has information is asked to contact the Police Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 4687.

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has apologised that his claim Britain has been “colonised” by migrants “offended some people in the UK and Europe”.

Sir Jim, one of Britain’s richest men, has been under pressure from a string of high-profile politicians, including Sir Keir Starmer, to apologise for the claim.

While the Ineos founder said he was sorry that his remarks “caused concern”, Sir Jim insisted that it was important to “raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth”.

Following his statement, the club issued one of its own, insisting it was an “inclusive and welcoming club”.

It added: Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home.”

In his statement released on Thursday, the billionaire said: “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.

“My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK.”

He added: “My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it was “right” that Sir Jim apologised for his “offensive and wrong” comments.

Sir Keir was among the first major political figures to have called on the businessman to apologise.

Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester said they “go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood”.

Mr Burnham, who has backed plans driven by Sir Jim to regenerate Old Trafford and build a new stadium for Manchester United, also said “footballers who have arrived from all over the world to play in Greater Manchester have enhanced the life of our city region”.

He then appeared to hit out at United’s ownership, adding: “If any criticism is needed, it should be directed towards those who have offered little contribution to our life here and have instead spent years siphoning wealth out of one of our proudest institutions.”

Kick It Out – the anti-discrimination football campaign group – told the Press Association Sir Jim’s comments were “disgraceful and deeply divisive” and also criticised his claim that the UK population has swelled by 12 million since 2020, which has proved to be inaccurate.

In the interview with Sky News on Wednesday, Sir Jim – who founded chemical giant Ineos in 1998 – said: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in.

“I mean, the UK is being colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants.”

Sir Jim bought a minority share in Manchester United in late 2023 and his Ineos group has since taken control of football operations.

The billionaire has presided over a variety of contentious changes since becoming part of the ownership, with ticket pricing and availability causing particular anger among United fans.

A protest against the club’s owners, including for the first time towards Sir Jim as well as the Glazers, took place before Manchester United’s recent home game against Fulham.

The billionaire businessman made headlines for his outspoken comments on benefits and migration

Billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s controversial comments on benefit claimants and immigration led to widespread criticism.

In an interview with Sky News, Failsworth-born Ratcliffe – whose net worth is estimated at £17bn – mainly discussed issues facing the petrochemicals industry and the impact of EU carbon taxes and energy prices on his business, INEOS.

The businessman, who owns a minority stake in Manchester United, listed some of the problems he said the UK is facing.

“The UK has lots of problems, we can all see that,” he said. “The economy, crime, education, health, it’s all not in a great place at the moment.

“If you really want to deal with major issues of immigration, people opting to take benefits rather than work for a living, you have to do things which are unpopular and show some courage.

“You can’t have an economy with 9 million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. The UK is being colonised, it’s costing too much money. Population was 58 mill in 2020, now it’s 70 million.”

His comments have drawn widespread criticism from football fans and politicians alike. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he should apologise, while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called his comments ‘inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory’.

Ratcliffe laters apologised for his ‘choice of language’ and said it was important to ‘raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth’.

United said the club takes pride in being ‘inclusive and welcoming’. Ratcliffe’s claims will be examined by the Football Association to see whether they brought the game into disrepute.

The Reds said in a statement: “Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club. Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters, reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home.

“Since launching All Red All Equal in 2016, we have embedded equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. We remain deeply committed to the principles and spirit of that campaign. They are reflected in our policies but also in our culture and are reinforced by our holding of the Premier League’s Advanced Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard.”

We’ve taken a look at the numbers behind some of Ratcliffe’s claims…

‘People opting to take benefits rather than working for a living’

Ratcliffe described ‘people opting to take benefits rather than work for a living’ as a ‘major issue’. Some 24 million people claimed some form of benefit in February 2025, which includes state pension, but 10 million of those were of working age.

The latest available figures from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) show there were 8,400,344 people in Britain claiming universal credit (UC) in December 2025, up from around 7.5 million in January that year.

Universal Credit is the main means-tested benefit available in the UK and has replaced the mixture of benefits previously in place, such as income support, jobseeker’s allowance, housing benefit and tax credits.

Of the 8.4 million UC claimants in Britain in December 2025, 2.2 million were in work, DWP figures show. Some 4.2 million were classed as not being required to work, which includes people in full-time education, over the state pension age, with a child under the age of one or who are considered to have no prospect of work for health or disability reasons.

The standard monthly allowance for a single person over 25 is £400.14, but claimants can get extra amounts if they have children or a health condition.

Analysis by the Social Justice Centre has found that people on combined benefits could be earning more from these than they would get from working.

Analysis in August found that an economically inactive claimant on UC for ill health with the average housing benefit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would receive an income of around £25,000.

For comparison, the average wage in the UK after tax is around £28,000. A full-time worker on the National Living Wage makes £22,500 after tax.

‘Huge levels of immigrants coming in’

Ratcliffe said ‘huge levels’ of immigrants are ‘coming into the UK’.

Statistics show net migration to the UK in the year ending June 2025 was 204,000. 898,000 people arrived in that year, down by 31 per cent on the previous year, while 693,300 people left (up by 7pc).

The net migration figure of 204,000 represents a decrease of 69pc on the previous year and a drop compared to the year ending March 2023, when net migration peaked at a historical high of 944,000.

The ONS estimates that non-EU immigration stood at 670,000 in that year (down by 37pc on the previous year). Around 41% came to study at UK universities, 13pc to work, and 13pc as the partner or child of a work migrant (13pc), the Migration Observatory said. A further 14pc were seeking asylum.

‘The UK has been colonised’

Ratcliffe said the UK has been colonised, making reference to the increase in the UK population since 2020.

He erroneously claimed the UK population was 58 million in 2020 and is now 70 million in 2026, saying the population has increased by 12 million in just 6 years.

In fact, the UK population has grown by 12 million since mid-1991, when it stood at an estimated 57.4 – so over 35 years, rather than the past six.

The population has increased by almost 2.8 million since 2020, from 66.7 to 69.5 million people in mid-2025.

At the time of the 2021/22 census, around 16pc of people living in the UK were born abroad, a total of around 10.7 million and a percentage increase from 13.4pc in 2011.

That is about the same rate as other similar high-income countries including France (15pc), the US (15pc), the Netherlands (16pc) and Spain (17pc) according to the Migration Observatory.

The top countries of origin of foreign-born migrants in the UK came from India (9pc), Poland (8pc), Pakistan (6pc), Romania (5pc) and Ireland (4pc). The same 2021 data showed that 58pc of migrants in England and Wales had been living in the UK for at least 10 years.

Ratcliffe has been a Monaco resident since 2020, after being one of the UK’s biggest taxpayers for years, according to the BBC. He owns properties in London, Hampshire, the French Alps and Switzerland, as well as two superyachts, the broadcaster reported.

‘It’s costing too much money’

Of the around eight million people claiming universal credit in June 2025, 83.6pc of these were British and Irish nationals, according to the BBC. But more than a million claimants were born overseas, including around 700,000 EU citizens who came to the UK before Brexit.

The Department for Work and Pensions has said most foreign nationals can claim only after five years residency, but there are exceptions such as for victims of modern slavery.

The Telegraph reported last year that households with at least foreign national claimant received over £7.5 billion in UC in 2023. The government spent around £265 billion on pensions and benefits in 2023-2024.

Around 72pc of the foreign-born population are of working age and 41pc have a university degree, according to the Migration Observatory.

In December 2024 nearly 20pc of UK employees were adult migrants and 19pc of that same group held a job in the health and care sector, compared to 14pc of British adults. Around 21pc of NHS staff in England reported a non-British nationality in June 2025.

There have been reports of hare coursing across South Cambridgeshire

Five dogs suspected of being used for hare coursing and a Mitsubishi Shogun have been seized by police. Neighbourhood officers and the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) responded yesterday (February 11) to reports of hare coursing taking place across the south of Cambridgeshire.

Officers tracked a black Mitsubishi Shogun believed to be involved and followed it to the A1198. When they attempted to stop the vehicle, it was driven off quickly. A stinger device was deployed, deflating three tyres, but the vehicle continued travelling before coming to a stop in Fox Road, Bourn just before 1.30pm.

Six men fled from the car. Five were detained shortly afterwards and have since been reported for various offences, including making off without paying, failing to stop for police and dangerous driving.

The vehicle and the five dogs found within it have been seized as they were believed to have been used in crime. Sergeant Tom Nuttall from the RCAT said: “Hare coursing is an illegal activity that causes significant suffering to wildlife and harms our rural communities.

“It will not be tolerated here in Cambridgeshire. We will continue to work closely with farmers, landowners and local residents to respond to reports and disrupt those intent on committing these offences.”

A spokesperson from Cambridgeshire Constabulary added: “Anyone who witnesses hare coursing should report it immediately by calling 999. Information about suspicious vehicles, trespassers or any other concerns can be reported on 101 or via www.cambs.police.uk.”

“Alongside these imminent talks, we have accepted the pay recommendation from the independent NHS Pay Review Body as part of this package on pay to deliver an above forecast inflation pay increase for the third consecutive year to 1.4 million NHS staff, including nurses, paramedics, midwives and hospital porters.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Democrat is calling for a watchdog investigation after photographs emerged suggesting that the Justice Department has been tracking the search history of lawmakers who are reviewing files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate what he characterized as “spying” on members of Congress who this week have reviewed less-redacted versions of the Epstein files at a department annex and on department-owned computers.

Photographs taken during Attorney General Pam Bondi’s hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday showed her holding a binder open to a page that said “Jayapal Pramila Search History” and that listed a series of documents that were apparently reviewed. Pramila Jayapal is a Democratic congresswoman and was among the Judiciary Committee members who pressed Bondi during the hearing about the department’s handling of the Epstein files.

Jayapal called it “totally unacceptable” and said lawmakers will be “demanding a full accounting” of how the department is using the search history.

“Bondi has enough time to spy on Members of Congress, but can’t find it in herself to apologize to the survivors of Epstein’s horrific abuse,” Jayapal said in a post on X.

A bipartisan contingent of lawmakers has traveled in recent days to a Justice Department outpost to review less-redacted records from the files, but some who have seen the documents have complained that too much information about Epstein associates remains withheld from view. The Trump administration Justice Department said last month that it was releasing more than 3 million pages along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images related to Epstein investigations.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department did not immediately return a request seeking comment Thursday, and a representative for the inspector general’s office declined to comment.

In a statement, Raskin said that not only had the Justice Department withheld records from lawmakers “but now Bondi and her team are spying on members of Congress conducting oversight in yet another blatant attempt to intrude into Congress’s oversight processes.”

He added: “DOJ must immediately cease tracking any Members’ searches, open up the Epstein review to senior congressional staff, and publicly release all files—with all the survivors’ information, and only the survivors’ information, properly redacted—as required by federal law.”

He has proved to be unflinchingly his own man, especially with his decision-making around Jude Bellingham, leaving Real Madrid’s superstar out of England’s squad for the friendly with Wales and the World Cup qualifier against Latvia in October despite his desire to be included after injury.

Tuchel is laser-focused on his task, which is solely to win the World Cup. No star system, a fault of predecessors, will be employed.

On the surface this looks, as the saying goes, a “no brainer”.

But what if England mirror the desperate efforts of Capello’s team in 2010?

It would take some doing, but they have not been dealt the easiest hand if they get out of the group games in the United States unscathed.

If all does not go as hoped for, the new contract will weigh heavily on both the FA and Tuchel.

Will this contract development future-proof Tuchel and the FA against World Cup failure? Unlikely.

England have made a habit of progressing serenely through qualifying under a succession of managers. Competitive tournament football remains the acid test – and one Tuchel is yet to pass.

It may, at least, offer the FA some protection from covetous advances being made in Tuchel’s direction from elite clubs, something which cannot be discounted should England’s World Cup be a success.

Tuchel will also be diverting from his own history if he does stay as England head coach until the proposed date of 2028, making his tenure almost four years.

He has not been one for the long haul since spending five years in charge at Mainz 05 between 2009 and 2014.

Tuchel left Borussia Dortmund in May 2017 after two years in charge. He stayed a little longer at Paris St Germain, taking them to the Champions League final, before he was sacked in December 2020.

He won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 but was dismissed in September 2022 after only 20 months in charge. Tuchel was then at Bayern Munich for a little more than a year, winning the Bundesliga.

This may yet be a brilliant piece of foresight by the FA to keep one of the best, most single-minded, successful coaches in world football.

The final verdict, however, must wait until after the World Cup.

A former Gogglebox star made a surprise appearance on First Dates and candidly opened up about their split from their partner

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A Gogglebox legend has appeared on dating show First Dates two years after their split from their co-star husband.

Daniel Lustig Webb joined the Channel 4 show in 2019 with his then husband Stephen Webb. The pair quickly became firm favourites with fans thanks to their hilarious one-liners and comical takes on the telly highlights.

However, in 2023, Daniel and Stephen left the programme, leaving fans gutted. At the time, Daniel said it had been an “absolute ride and an absolute pleasure” to be one of the families featured.

Less than a year later though, Daniel and Stephen announced they were to divorce. The pair however continued to share their Brighton home together.

And this week, Daniel was back on screens for an appearance on Channel 4’s hit dating show First Dates. The telly star arrived at the restaurant and shared that he is there to “find the love of my life”.

Daniel added: “I have been single for about 10 months. In the summer I did have a little bit of a dating frenzy. In one month, I think I went on about 17 dates.” When asked what type of person he is looking for Daniel shared: “I’m looking for someone fit, healthy and with hair!”

At the restaurant, Daniel was matched with dad-of-two Simon. While on the date, Simon admitted he recognised Daniel but couldn’t put his finger on where he knew him from.

Daniel told him: “I was on Gogglebox with my ex. We were the guys with poodles, sitting on the couch. I was married up until last year. We were together for 12 years.”

Speaking to the First Dates team, Daniel also spoke candidly about how his split from Stephen affected him. He shared: “When you break up with someone, especially if you’ve been married and you’ve given your heart to it, it’s upsetting. And it was upsetting.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

“I definitely felt like I was grieving for a good six months. It was very hard to get over it. If you’re going to get married, you think you’re going to be together forever. Your heart is stuck on that. So, when you separate, it’s very hard to get out of that funk.”

Meanwhile, back at the table, Daniel told Simon: “It is difficult, because we still live together.” Simon was stunned by the revelation, as Daniel explained: “But we’re not sharing a bed. He’s in the other room, I’m in this room. Eventually we will sell our place and move on.”

At the end of the date, Simon revealed that although he would like to see Daniel again, he was unsure if there was a “romantic connection” between them. He explained: “I didn’t feel any flirting between us.” Daniel agreed: “I felt like that too.”

Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.

‘Satire is clearly not one of our strong points’

A food venue in the city centre has been forced to apologise for a now-deleted social post relating to Donald Trump, which was met with backlash online as people accused them of ‘giving MAGA’..

At the weekend, a post was shared on Mackie Mayor’s Instagram page, which has around 84,000 followers, tying the institution with the American president. The space, in the former Smithfield Market building on Eagle Street in the Northern Quarter, features nine independent kitchens and bars.

The venue, which has been going for nearly ten years now and is run by the same team behind Altrincham Market and the Picturedrome Macclesfield, posted an ‘satirical’ AI-doctored image of an unimpressed Trump on Saturday (February 7) wearing a gold dollar sign chain alongside an orange T-shirt referring to the food hall. The T-shirt featured the words: “The original, the modern and the best, just don’t call us a food hall”.

The post was accompanied by the caption: “Those monkeys, I wear one of their goddam [sic] new T’s and they don’t even serve burger, fries and Coca Cola.” The post was later deleted, although screenshots remain of the image and its caption. Many people online believed Mackie Mayor’s post referred to a recent video posted by Trump last week, which was criticised for featuring the faces of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama positioned over images of apes. The venue has today told the M.E.N the post had been a reference to the Northern slang ‘Cheeky Monkeys’ instead.

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The video clip shared by Trump, which was set to the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, featured claims regarding vote fraud in the 2020 election. Trump later deleted the clip, saying he believed he ‘didn’t make a mistake’ in sharing it and said he had only ever watched the start of the clip before the scene depicting the Obama’s was featured.

The Manchester food venue’s post has also reached the Manchester subreddit on the Reddit platform, where it has been criticised for being ‘offensive’. The initial shared post on Reddit was captioned: “Think they’ve taken it down now after everyone piled on about how dumb it was.”

Commenting on the post, one person said: “Absolutely bizarre post (by them)”. Another wrote: “Oh that Social Media manager was trying to be funny and edgy huh?” One other commented: “I’m not even sure I get what the intended point was.” Another wrote: “Call me a snowflake but this just isn’t funny to me at all. Seems like a business trying to make a joke about current affairs as part of their marketing but missing the part of their brain that says “Actually, maybe we just make jokes about something a bit less risky”.”

Speaking to the M.E.N, one person from Manchester said they had been ‘horrified’ after discovering the post whilst scrolling on Instagram on Saturday. Whilst they couldn’t be sure, they said they believe the post was deleted within ‘about 30 minutes’. There’s been nothing to suggest that the vendors at Mackie Mayor, who operate independently to the owners, had any awareness or involvement of the social post.

“I remember commenting on the post, being like ‘what the ****’, and I got loads of notifications from people before they all just stopped,” the person, who asked not to be named, said. “It looked to me like someone had asked ChatGPT to generate both the image and the caption, but it’s so random. They have just tried to sweep it under the rug and I just don’t think that’s okay.

“They should be called out for it because it’s not acceptable. People should be aware of what they’ve said and be held accountable for that. I don’t think Trump should be used in any way when it comes to marketing regardless, let alone from a big brand. It’s giving MAGA, to be honest.”

On Instagram earlier today (February 12), a number of people were continuing to leave comments on the venue’s posts. On an unrelated post, one person wrote: “There’s still time to apologise rather than pretend the ai trump post didn’t happen.” Another said: “At this point I have no faith that they’ll ever mention it or apologise. They don’t care.”

The owners of Mackie Mayor said its post had been intended to reference the Northern phrase ‘cheeky monkeys’, rather than anything relating to videos shared by Donald Trump. Whilst saying the post had been intended to be ‘deliberately unflattering, satirical and self-deprecating’, they acknowledged they had missed the mark and ‘apologised unreservedly’.

In a statement shared with the M.E.N, a spokesperson for Mackie Mayor said: “On Instagram on Saturday 7 February we briefly posted a photoshopped Donald Trump. Its intent was to be deliberately unflattering, satirical, self-deprecating and poke fun at Trump, criticising us as “losers” for not serving burgers, Coca Cola and fries.

“The reference was intended as a link to the Northern phrase “cheeky monkeys” – something our grans used to call us. On review, we understand this was not how it was interpreted and apologise unreservedly for any offence that this caused. Satire is clearly not one of our strong points. We’ll stick to delivering great food and drinks in a wonderful and inclusive environment that we have been trying to do for the last ten years.”