The tweet ricocheted around the web and was widely denounced.

Murdoch’s tweet was championing Ben Carson, a Republican who is the only African-American candidate in the presidential race.

“Ben and Candy Carson terrific,” he wrote. “What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else.”

Murdoch’s use of the word “real” flabbergasted many online onlookers, some of whom concluded that the media mogul was questioning Obama’s race and identity.

Obama, the first black president of the United States, has also been dogged by false accusations that he isn’t a U.S. citizen.