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Danish youth party apologises for calling Barack Obama 'negro without talent' in song

Song lyrics endorse Trump as next US leader, with words: 'We would vote for Trump, if we were in LA'

Harriet Agerholm
Monday 20 June 2016 17:04 EDT
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The youth arm of the right-wing party have said that the song has been 'misunderstood'
The youth arm of the right-wing party have said that the song has been 'misunderstood' (AP)

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The youth group of a right-wing Danish political party has apologised for a song describing Barack Obama as a "negro without talent".

Members of the Danish People’s Party (DF) youth wing claimed the song, set to the tune of 'California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas and also suggesting the US President was "no bro", was meant to be funny.

It also endorses Donald Trump as the next leader of the US, with the words: “We would vote for Trump, if we were in LA, Trump for president, November is the day”.

The youth group sang in English at a political gathering in Bornholm, in front of the US ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford - an old friend of the president.

In a post on its Facebook page, the group said the song was “an attempt to be humorous” and was supposed to be a “fun party tune”. It said the wording had been “misunderstood”.

The lyrics were first published in a Facebook post by David Trads, who said the party’s actions were “misplaced” and “idiotic”. He called on the youth group to apologise, especially since the insult was sung to the US ambassador. Many have commented on Mr Trads’ post expressing disgust at the insulting term.

The Danish People's Party has previously been criticised for promoting a racist message with a poster featuring an an all-white family below the words: “Our Denmark - there is so much we need to take care of.”

Soren Espersen, a spokesperson for the Danish People’s party, defended the campaign by saying he was "colour-blind" and that it would make no difference to the message if there were a “neger” (negro) on the poster.

Controversy surrounds the Danish word “neger”, which many Scandinavian people continue to use to describe black people. Critics argue it effectively translates as the more offensive N-word, while others say that even the direct translation of "negro" has racist connotations and is not acceptable.

Earlier this year the National Gallery of Denmark removed the term from those titles of its artwork it featured in.

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