WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday referred to Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries" during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House, a Democratic aide briefed on the meeting told NBC News.
Trump's comments were first reported by The Washington Post, which said the group of nations referred to also included El Salvador.
Two sources briefed on the conversation say that during the portion of the conversation about Haiti — which came at the top of the exchange that led to the “shithole” comment — the president questioned why Haitians should be given specific consideration.
“Why do we need more Haitians, take them out,” he said, according to our sources.
Someone else in the room responded: “Because if you do, it will be obvious why.”
The comments came as senators huddled in the Oval Office with the president to discuss a path forward on an immigration deal. Trump questioned why the United States would want people from nations such as Haiti while he was being briefed on changes to the visa lottery system.
According to the aide, when the group came to discussing immigration from Africa, Trump asked why America would want immigrants from "all these shithole countries" and that the U.S. should have more people coming in from places like Norway. Thursday's meeting came one day after Trump met with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the White House.
A source familiar with Thursday's meeting told NBC News the president was particularly frustrated during discussions about the visa lottery system — a program Trump has railed against repeatedly in recent months. Another White House source explained the language Trump used as his way of trying to emphasize his support for a merit-based immigration system.
The White House issued a statement that did not deny the remarks.
"Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told NBC Thursday, as part of a lengthy statement that did not directly dispute the language reportedly used in the meeting.
"He will always reject temporary, weak and dangerous stopgap measures that threaten the lives of hardworking Americans, and undercut immigrants who seek a better life in the United States through a legal pathway."
Republican congressional reaction trickled in Thursday night, with some statements critical of the reported language calling on the White House to immediately provide an "explanation" or additional "context."
But Republican Rep. Mia Love of Utah — the daughter of Haitian immigrants herself — released a tough statement calling Trump's comments "unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation's values" and demanding an apology from the president.
And Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said in a tweet that the reported remark "ignores the contributions thousands of Haitians have made to our #SoFla community and nation. Language like that shouldn't be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn't be heard in the White House".
It’s not the first time reports have surfaced of Trump speaking unfavorably about immigrants, and Haitians in particular. The New York Times reported in December that Trump said Haitian immigrants "all have AIDS," during a summer 2017 meeting about immigration.
According to the Times, Trump also targeted Nigerian immigrants during that meeting, complaining that once they came the United States they would never "go back to their huts." The White House vigorously denied the claims in the story at the time.
Source: nbcnews.com
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That is why I like the Presidents mantra of Africa beyond aid. Let our leaders reduce corruption and develop our countries so that these kind of insults from the developed world will cease. We must be proud of our heritage.
I had the best laugh of my life. This was really funny. Well Africans, please stop complaining, begging and also send rockets to the moon to prove you are not a *shithole* country. Although we must admit that geographically Africa is the best continent with few problems related to earthquakes and other natural disasters. My only problem is the heat
Kudos Trump for telling these countries in the face. Develop your country and nobody insults you period. Why should people still live in huts and drive rickety cars on bad roads and politicians go on stealing. When America was developing where were these shi*thole countires and their leaders? In Ghana we still shi*t at the beach and along beautiful coasts. Where are the toilets. We queue to even go to toilet. Why won't somebody call you shi*t country. Thank you Trump.
I agree Perfectly @Solo: Please stop re-publishing this hate or concocted stories from the liberals and some mainstream media in America. Their agenda is clear. Don't fall into it! President Trump may have his weaknesses like any other person but the hate against this man is unparalleled. This story is completely false!
Why blame trump by the way, when our leaders stealing and ***barred word*** state coffers. Will America be attractive if their leaders stole all the money God have mercy on black people
Why would he not describe Africans as such......in ghana for instance nothing of govt policy begins and ends.......corrupt and greedy politicians .......monies meant for development projects are almost always mismanaged and thats it......And here most are jubilating about a special prosecutor.....tweaaaa kai.......nothing would come out of it......Africa has been describe as it is....
"... Nigerians will never go back to their huts..." hehehe!! that is wat corruption does to a country.
Just want to say you are a moron.. I was born to ghanain parents in America and as American, we've come to conclusion in the history of our country politics there's has never been rhetoric and bigotry like this and many political historians have said Trump actions is not presidential and unfit for the office of the most powerful country in world.
THIS TRUMP MAN IS A ***barred word*** MAN AND I PRAY HE IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE
Who told you the story is false. ***barred word***