U.S President Donald Trump on Friday denied a derogatory comment that he is alleged to have made against some Central American and African countries that triggered an international outrage for its racist undertones. In a statement attributed to him in media reports, Mr. Trump referred to them as “s***hole countries” during an interaction with U.S lawmakers at the White House on Thursday on immigration. “Why are we having all these people from s***hole countries come here?” the President reportedly asked lawmakers, arguing that the U.S should have more people coming from countries like Norway.
The alleged use of the insult by the President even raised a dilemma for U.S news outlets on whether to print and use on air the word, as finally most did. A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights termed the statement “shocking and shameful” and “racist."
“The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made — a big setback for DACA,” the President said on Twitter on Friday morning. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA is an Obama-era protection that Mr, Trump wants to end, for those who arrived in the country illegally when they were children. Democrats are fighting for the continuation of DACA.
Haiti and Haitians, targets of a separate anti-immigration drive by the Trump administration, were also subject of derogatory remarks by the President according to the first report on the issue, by the Washington Post . “Why do we need more Haitians?” Mr. Trump reportedly said. “Take them out,” he said according to the report that was widely followed up. The White House did not not deny the remarks in a statement on Thursday evening while it reiterated the President’s immigration agenda.
On Friday morning, however, Mr. Trump denied making these remarks but held fast to his sweeping proposals for removing protections for groups of people in legal grey zones of immigration status. “Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said “take them out.” Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings — unfortunately, no trust!,” the President posted.
The President also publicly rejected a bipartisan deal that was presented to him by lawmakers to resolved the DACA issue. The details of the proposal has not been publicized by the lawmakers, but the President said: “The so-called bipartisan DACA deal …was a big step backwards. Wall was not properly funded, Chain & Lottery were made worse and USA would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime…....countries which are doing badly,” he said, reiterating his call for ending chain migration and the lottery route to immigration. “…I want safety and security for our people. I want to stop the massive inflow of drugs…” he said. The President wants funding for his election promise of building a wall on the U.S southern border as part of any legislation on immigration reform.
