Prime Minister Christopher Luxon believes US President Donald Trump should apologise over sharing a video to social media portraying Michelle and Barack Obama as primates.

The 62-second clip appeared to be launched from conservatives alleging deliberate tampering of voting machines during the 2020 presidential campaigns.

At the one-minute mark was a quick scene of two primates with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them.

The Republican President’s social media post of the former Democrat President and First Lady immediately drew a strong backlash.

The post was eventually deleted but Trump has refused to apologise, with the sharing of the post being blamed on a staff member.

Luxon told TVNZ’s Breakfast he thought Trump should recognise his mistake.

Asked if an apology was in order for the post, Luxon said: “Look, yeah, I think he should.”

“He was asked, he says he condemns it, but the reality is I saw coverage of it. I lived in the US for eight years in North America and I’m well aware of what that trope is all about.

“It was racist and it’s right that it’s been removed.

“As to whether he apologises for it, that’s obviously a decision for him but I would have thought you’d want to,” he said.

Luxon recently declined to join Trump’s Board of Peace “in its current form”.