US President Donald Trump has drawn criticism after posting a video of kindergarten pupils celebrating their graduation on Truth Social without providing any caption or context.
According to The New Republic, the footage was recorded at Gateway STEM Academy, a majority-Black K-8 public charter school in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The video shows 21 children wearing graduation caps and gowns while singing on stage. Most of the girls are wearing hijabs.
Repost fuels online controversy
Shortly after uploading the video, Trump reposted it while quoting another Truth Social user’s comment.
The repost included the remark: “Public school in St. Paul, Minnesota. Every girl is in a hijab…in kindergarten.”
The two posts drew widespread reactions on the platform, with some comments expressing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant views.
The Daily Beast reported that it sought a response from the White House on why the president had amplified such commentary, but did not receive an immediate reply.
Long-running tensions with Minnesota lawmaker
St. Paul is home to a large and diverse Muslim community. The city is also located near the congressional district represented by Minnesota lawmaker Ilhan Omar, who has frequently been criticised by Trump on social media.
Omar, the first Somali American elected to the US Congress, has repeatedly been the target of Trump’s online attacks. He has previously referred to her as “low IQ” and accused her of involvement in a fraud scandal in Minneapolis.
Following the State of the Union address, Trump also criticised Omar and fellow Muslim congresswoman Rashida Tlaib on Truth Social, describing them as “lunatics” in a lengthy post.
Gateway STEM Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
