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(CNN) President Donald Trump's complaints about immigrants coming to the United States from "shithole countries" have prompted condemnation from around the world.
US Democratic and Republican lawmakers criticized those comments as "divisive" and "unacceptable," while Haiti summoned the top American diplomat there to discuss Trump's remarks.
Trump's reported comments, made at closed-door White House talks on an immigration deal, were a reaction to a plan to cut the number of people entering the United States through its visa lottery program. According to CNN sources, lawmakers proposed reducing the number by half, with the rest going to underrepresented countries in Africa and nations with temporary protected status, or TPS.
UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville condemned Trump's remarks as "shocking and shameful" and going against the world's "universal values."
"I'm sorry, but there's no other word one can use but racist," Colville said, responding to reporters at a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland. "You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as 'shitholes' whose entire populations, who are not white, are therefore not welcome."
"Shocking and shameful": comments from the President of the United States go "against universal values" according to @UNHumanRights spox Rupert Colville speaking in Geneva today pic.twitter.com/a5D6v4E4mg — UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) January 12, 2018
Trump on Friday denied describing certain nations in such vulgar terms , tweeting: "The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used."
The furor comes as Haiti prepares to commemorate eight years since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed hundreds of thousands and displaced many more.
As a result of that disaster, Haitians were accorded TPS in the United States, granted to individuals from countries where conditions such as war, natural disasters or political strife prevent them from returning safely.
Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said, "SHAME ON TRUMP! "The world is witnessing a new low today" and called Trump's remarks "totally unacceptable!"
"It shows a lack of respect and ignorance never seen before in the recent history of the US by any President," Lamothe tweeted.
SHAME ON TRUMP! The world is witnessing a new low today with this #ShitholeNations remark! totally unacceptable! uncalled for moreover it shows a lack a respect and IGNORANCE never seen before in the recent history of the US by any President! Enough is enough!! — Laurent Lamothe (@LaurentLamothe) January 12, 2018
With the US ambassadorship in Haiti vacant, Robin Diallo, the charge d'affaires at the embassy, is set to meet Friday with Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, a senior State Department official told CNN.
Haiti's US envoy, Paul Altidor, condemned what he called Trump's "misguided" remarks in an interview with NPR, saying he was "surprised and disappointed" and hoped there might be an apology for his country.
The Department of Homeland Security on Monday announced it would also The Trump administration announced late last year it would end the TPS designation for Haiti , a move that could affect tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants.The Department of Homeland Security on Monday announced it would also end protections for more than 200,000 Salvadorans
Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez responded by tweeting about his countrymen's contributions to the United States, saying "a good part of those who helped rebuild New Orleans after Katrina were Salvadoran. I feel proud to be Salvadoran."
Meanwhile, American diplomats and the US Embassy in San Salvador sought to assure Salvadorans of their respect for the country.
Jean Manes, US ambassador to El Salvador, tweeted in Spanish: "I have had the privilege to travel around this beautiful country and meet thousands of Salvadorans. It is an honor to live and work here. We remain 100% committed."
The official account for the US Embassy in San Salvador also tweeted in Spanish: "The United States is proud to be a partner of El Salvador and we remain firm in our friendship that dates back various decades."
Nepal, which became a TPS nation after a major earthquake in 2015, said authorities were discussing their response.
Nepalese Foreign Minister Bharat Raj Paudyal told CNN that "we are aware of President Trump's comments, and our ministry is discussing the matter."
A senior official from Somalia, also on the US list of TPS nations, told CNN that Trump's comments were unworthy of a response.
"It sounds like fake news to me," Somali Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman said by phone from Mogadishu. "If it's real, it doesn't need a response. Those comments do not deserve a response."
On Twitter , former Mexican President Vicente Fox, a longtime Trump critic, said the US leader's mouth "is the foulest shithole in the world."
"With what authority do you proclaim who's welcome in America and who's not. America's greatness is built on diversity, or have you forgotten your immigrant background, Donald?" he asked.
.@realDonaldTrump, your mouth is the foulest shithole in the world. With what authority do you proclaim who's welcome in America and who's not. America's greatness is built on diversity, or have you forgotten your immigrant background, Donald? — Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) January 11, 2018
Former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who's now president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, said the Trump administration is "leading a race to the bottom on refugees and immigrants that is a betrayal of America's future as well as of its history."
Trump Administration leading a race to the bottom on refugees and immigrants that is a betrayal of America's future as well as of its history. These are PEOPLE. https://t.co/OPf7LgLYRg — David Miliband (@DMiliband) January 12, 2018
There was also fierce reaction from people on the African continent to Trump's remarks.
The government of Botswana said it had summoned the US ambassador to the southern African nation to "express its displeasure" over Trump's reported comments, which it views as "highly irresponsibly, reprehensible and racist."
The government said it had also asked the United States to "clarify if Botswana is regarded as a 'shithole' country."
"I am shocked by the words of President Trump on Haiti and Africa," Senegalese President Macky Sall said in an official tweet.
"I reject them and condemn vigorously. Africa and the black race deserve the respect and consideration of all."
African Union spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo said Trump's reported comments were alarming and surprising, particularly "given that so many Africans arrived in the US as slaves."
"It is, frankly, upsetting," she said. "Our relationship with the United States goes beyond the statement of one man, however, though he is the highest office bearer of that land."
In Kenya, Saum Ramadhan, a 23-year-old engineering student at the University of Nairobi, told CNN she found Trump's comments "very offensive, because I think most countries in Africa are pretty stable and we are doing good."
She added: "There might be some struggles, but I think we are doing good. I don't think it's fair to classify all Africa as shitty. That is absolutely wrong."
Duncan Owor, a medical student from Central Kenya, said it was "not the right thing for him to do," given his status.
"He is the President of the United States of America. We expect more of him. We expect him to be an example. We are growing democracies. We don't expect such remarks," Owor said.
Kenyan activist and politician Boniface Mwangi said that "how America elected a narcissist, racist, white supremacist to be their president defies logic."
"Africa sends love and light to America," he added.
President @realDonaldTrump has called Africa a shithole. How America elected a narcissist, racist, white supremacist to be their president defies logic. Africa sends love and light to America. #ShitholeTrump pic.twitter.com/AuZDUy1pwf — Boniface Mwangi (@bonifacemwangi) January 12, 2018
Cartoonist Victor Ndula tweeted an image of a "shithole" map of Africa he produced for Kenya's The Star newspaper.
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi remarked on Twitter, "Africa isn't a shithole. It's the most beautiful continent in the world. Beautiful, hardworking people. We have diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, cocoa, coffee, tea etc. Sadly we have #shithole leaders like Trump shitting on us everyday."
South Africa's best-known morning-news anchor, Leanne Manas, tweeted, "Good morning from the greatest most beautiful 'shithole country' in the world!!!"
CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that Lauren Lamothe is the former Prime Minister of Haiti.
Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump sat for an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Thursday. While the interview was quickly eclipsed by Trump's comment that immigrants were coming from "shithole countries," it is still a very interesting read.
I went through the transcript -- helpfully released by the Journal (kudos!) -- and picked out the 56 most noteworthy lines. They're below.
1. "We were going down, we were going down a long way."
This is Trump's description of the end of the Obama presidency. And off we go!
2. "The cutting of regulation and all of the many things that we've done, including being a cheerleader for the country -- and perhaps that's part of the reason I'm going to Davos also -- but being a cheerleader for the country."
An interesting comment by Trump -- and telling. He quite clearly puts considerable stock in the idea that the president must be a cheerleader. It reminds me of a story from The New York Times that suggested Donald Trump Jr. approached Ohio Gov. John Kasich with an offer to be vice president -- and a wide-ranging portfolio of responsibilities. What would the elder Trump be in charge of, Kasich asked? "Making America Great Again" was Don Jr.'s response.
3. "You people actually wrote one of the best stories that I've ever seen on regulation; you said more than any president in history. That was the full pager, that wasn't..."
Your regular reminder that Trump is a VERY active consumer of the very same mainstream media he decries. Also , this is the "full pager" (I think) that Trump refers to.
4. "I mean I actually read it because I've never seen a full page—it's actually a full page article."
So, he read it because it was a full-page article?
5. "One of the promises that you know is being very seriously negotiated right now is the wall and the wall will happen."
Well, if you say so....
6. "If we don't make a fair deal for this country, a Trump deal, then we're not going to have—then we're going to have a—I will terminate."
A "Trump deal"! Epic!
7. "They've done more for me than they ever have for any American president."
This is Trump on China and Trump on massive hyperbole. Everything must be historic or record-setting or the best or the first.
8. "He's — China has done far more for us than they ever have for any American president."
This is not a duplicate. He just said virtually the same thing again a sentence or two later.
9. "This should not have been a problem left on my desk, but it is, and I get things solved. And one way or the other, that problem is going to be solved."
This Trump assertion on North Korea is, um, muscular? "That problem is going to be solved" is pretty definitive.
10. "But the difference is I'm president; other people aren't."
Fact Check: True!
11. "And I know more about wedges than any human being that's ever lived, but I'll let you know."
OK, so the context here is that the Journal reporters are asking whether North Korea is trying to drive a wedge between South Korea and the United States. is Trump talking about that kind of wedge or a pitching wedge in golf? I genuinely have no idea, but I can tell you that either way he knows more about it than "any human being that's ever lived."
12. "I have a great relationship with him, as you know I have a great relationship with Prime Minister Abe of Japan and I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea."
One of these things is not like the other...
13. "I don't want to comment on it—I don't want to comment, I'm not saying I have or I haven't."
Trump on whether he has spoken to Kim Jong Un. (HINT: He hasn't .)
14. "Sure, you see that a lot with me and then all of a sudden somebody's my best friend. I could give you 20 examples. You give me 30. I'm a very flexible person."
He's right about this. Ted Cruz. Rand Paul. Bob Corker. Lindsey Graham. Trump has SAVAGED all of these people and yet has somehow managed to build relationships with them after the clash.
15. "Unless it's somebody that didn't love our country, and the Democrats love our country. We have different views but the Democrats love our country."
Trump is talking specifically about the visa lottery system and chain migration here. And it speaks volumes that he says that if you don't agree with his view on these two topics, you must not love America.
16. "I've also said Mexico's got to pay for it—sometimes you know on occasion, I'd add who's going to pay for it? Mexico. Well they will pay for it, OK?"
Go on...
17. "You know, we make a good deal on NAFTA, say I'm going to take a small percentage of that money and it's going to go toward the wall. Guess what? Mexico's paying."
OK, so to follow Trump's logic: The US re-negotiates NAFTA. In that renegotiation, the US saves money in the deal. That money, which comes from Mexico(?), pays for the wall?
18. "There is no deal that I can make on NAFTA that's as good as if I terminate NAFTA and make a new deal."
And yet, Trump repeatedly says in this interview he is open to re-negotiating NAFTA.
19. "We have mountains that are far better than a wall, we have violent rivers that nobody goes near."
The most violent rivers, believe me.
20. "I saw on television, Donald Trump is going to make the wall smaller; no, the wall's identical."
"Believe it or not, even when I'm in Washington or New York, I do not watch much television/ People that don't know me, they like to say I watch television -- people with fake sources. You know, fake reporters, fake sources." -- Donald Trump, November 11, 2017
21. "You go 32 feet up and you don't know who's over here. You're here, you've got the wall and there's some other people here."
[nodding]
22. "If I'm standing here, I want to be able to see 200 yards out. I want to be able to see, I don't want to have a piece of concrete that I can't see."
[keeps nodding]
23. "We have to have vision through the wall."
Wall vision is key.
24. "I'd like to be able to see three or four hundred yards instead of we're at a wall we have no idea who's on the other side. Does this make sense or am I just wasting my time?"
[nods vigorously]
25. "I have Foxconn coming to Wisconsin; that's my deal. You know the head of Foxconn, you know he's a friend of mine. He's still only moving there because of me."
Paging Scott Walker. Governor Walker, please pick up the nearest white phone.
26. "The wall is the wall and it's the same wall that we're always talking about."
Look. All in all, we're just another brick in the wall.
27. "We don't need it where you have mountains; you don't need it where you have rivers and -- you know, vicious rivers."
Wait, wait. I thought the rivers were "violent?"
28. "Yeah, be really clear, I'd like to -- because I love the 'Wall Street Journal'. I hope that you guys are clear. OK."
Same.
29. "The man with the three hour interview, he spent three hours -- the man who said he spent three hours in the Oval Office who I never met once in the White House."
"The man with the three hour interview" is kind of a catchy nickname for Michael Wolff.
30. "I think that when somebody makes false statements and libelous statements, whether it's in a book or a newspaper or anything else. When they have phony sources, when the sources don't exist, yeah I think they should have a liability."
31. "I was always the best at what I did, I was the -- I was, you know, I went to the -- I went to the Wharton School of Finance, did well."
This is, by the way, Trump's explanation for why the media doesn't like him. Also, he went to Wharton. That's at the University of Pennsylvania. Ivy League and whatnot.
32. "I created maybe the greatest brand."
"Maybe" the greatest brand??? Sad!
33. "Just -- and so -- so I was successful, successful, successful."
That's three "successfuls," which, by anyone's reckoning, is a lot of success.
34. "I was always the best athlete, people don't know that."
No words.
35. "And then people say oh, is he a smart person? I'm smarter than all of them put together, but they can't admit it."
Best brand? CHECK
Best brain? CHECK
Best athlete? ALSO CHECK
36. "I have many people that work for me who were far more important than Steve, right there."
This is a very debatable claim. Bannon was the chief architect of Trump's policy vision and, by all accounts, the one voice urging him to stay in the race after the "Access Hollywood" tape.
37. "And Steve, in the end I fired Steve."
38. "I don't know what the word permanent means, OK?"
He does! What Trump means here is that he never severs any relationship permanently. People can always come back into the Trump fold -- and often do.
39. "We'll see what happens, but Steve had nothing to do with my win. Well, certainly very little."
40. "Steve's greatest asset is he was able to convince a corrupt media that he was responsible for my win."
Oh so that was Bannon's greatest gift.
41. "I talked to Steve very little; I didn't know Steve well, believe it or not."
I don't believe it because it's not true. Bannon and Trump had known one another since 2011.
42. "My son had a brief meeting based on the fact that he thought whatever he thought."
We know that Don Jr. met with Russians at Trump Tower because he had been promised dirt on Hillary Clinton.
43. "It's probably illegal, what he's doing."
Trump accuses California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of breaking the law for leaking (I think?).
44. "Because they realize there's no collusion whatsoever. There's no collusion."
46. "I won an election that should never be won, because the Electoral College is far harder to win than the popular vote. The popular vote, for me, would have been much easier."
The 2016 election ended 429 days ago.
47. "This is the FBI we're talking about. I think that is -- that is treason. See, that's treason right there."
48. "By the way, that's a treasonous act. What he tweeted to his lover is a treasonous act."
Yes, you just said that.
49. "There has never been, in the history -- in the history of an administration anybody that was more open than we were."
Uh...
50. "Everybody hated Comey."
I smell a sitcom....
51. "I've been, you know, pretty successful in the courts over the years, I've been a very successful person, you can check -- USA Today said, 'he does great in the courts' OK?"
Best brand? CHECK
Best brain? CHECK
Best athlete? ALSO CHECK
Best in court? WHAT DO YOU THINK? CHECK.
52. "When he announced the Hillary Clinton fiasco where she was guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty and then where they did the interview with no tape recorder, with no swearing in, with no this, with no that -- you know the story."
Four "guiltys"! That's bigger than three "successfuls." Trust me. I know math.
53. "I do enjoy this, actually."
Trump is talking about being interviewed. And of course he enjoys it. He loves the media no natter what he says publicly.
54. "I've knocked out ISIS and Syria and Iraq and all but -- and we're doing well in Afghanistan for the first time ever."
"I've knocked out."
55. "Our air-traffic control is from a different planet."
Tell me more....
56. "You know what? I like him. I like him. I like them all."
I like him too. I like them all -- whoever them all is.
The Fix’s Eugene Scott explains how Trump’s “shithole countries” comment is the latest example of his history of demeaning statements on nonwhite immigrants. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)
The Fix’s Eugene Scott explains how Trump’s “shithole countries” comment is the latest example of his history of demeaning statements on nonwhite immigrants. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)
President Trump grew frustrated with lawmakers Thursday in the Oval Office when they discussed protecting immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal, according to several people briefed on the meeting.
“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump said, according to these people, referring to countries mentioned by the lawmakers.
Trump then suggested that the United States should instead bring more people from countries such as Norway, whose prime minister he met with Wednesday. The president, according to a White House official, also suggested he would be open to more immigrants from Asian countries because he felt that they help the United States economically.
In addition, the president singled out Haiti, telling lawmakers that immigrants from that country must be left out of any deal, these people said.
“Why do we need more Haitians?” Trump said, according to people familiar with the meeting. “Take them out.”
1 of 18 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × What politicians are saying after Trump’s vulgar remarks at immigration meeting View Photos Democrats and Republicans criticized the president for referring to El Salvador, Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries.” Caption Democrats and Republicans criticized the president for referring to El Salvador, Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries.” State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Ill.) “He’s demonstrated himself to be unfit, unknowledgeable about the history of this country and the history of contributions that immigrants, particularly Haitian immigrants, have made to this country,” Raoul told CBS. READ THE STORY Sophia Tareen/AP Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.
In November, the Trump administration rescinded deportation protection granted to nearly 60,000 Haitians after the 2010 earthquake and told them to return home by July 2019.
Lawmakers were taken aback by the comments, according to people familiar with their reactions. Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) had proposed cutting the visa lottery program by 50 percent and then prioritizing countries already in the system, a White House official said.
A White House spokesman defended Trump’s position on immigration without directly addressing his remarks. White House officials did not dispute the account.
[200,000 Salvadorans may be forced to leave the U.S. as Trump ends immigration protection]
“Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people,” spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement issued after The Washington Post first reported Trump’s remarks. “. . . Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation.”
Trump built his candidacy and presidency around hard stances on immigration, vowing to build a wall along the Mexican border and cut legal immigration by half, among other positions. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security have increased immigration raids, including dozens this week at convenience stores across the country.
Trump’s comments Thursday also put further scrutiny on his long-standing tendency to make racially charged remarks — including attacks on protesting black athletes and his claim that there were fine people “on both sides” after neo-Nazis rioted in Charlottesville, Va. Trump falsely claimed for years that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and took out advertisements calling for the death penalty for members of the Central Park Five — four black youths and a Hispanic youth who were accused of a brutal rape in New York and later exonerated.
President Trump referred to African nations and Haiti as "shithole" countries on Jan. 11, when discussing restoring protections for certain immigrant groups. Here are other nations he has insulted. (Melissa Macaya/The Washington Post)
The president’s remarks were quickly met with scorn from Democrats and some Republicans and could throw another wrench into bipartisan discussions on immigration, which had shown promise in recent days, according to legislators.
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) said the comments “will shake the confidence that people have” in the ongoing immigration policy talks.
“Democrats and Republicans in the Senate made a proposal. The answer is this racist outburst of the president. How can you take him seriously?” Gutiérrez said. “They [Republicans] don’t believe in immigration — it’s always been about people of color and keeping them out of this country.”
Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said on Twitter that Trump’s remarks “are further proof that his Make America Great Again Agenda is really a Make America White Again agenda.”
Some Republicans also raised objections. Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah), whose family is from Haiti, said in a statement that Trump’s remarks were “unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation’s values. This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation.”
“My grandmother used to say, ‘Digame con quién caminas, y te diré quién eres.’ ‘Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are,’ ” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), who represents most of Harlem and is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. “If he’s walking around with white supremacists and supporting them, this kind of talk doesn’t surprise me.”
The New York Times also reported last year that Trump said immigrants from Haiti have AIDS. The White House denied that report.
[White House: No deal yet on immigration]
In a statement condemning Thursday’s remarks by Trump, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Paul G. Altidor, said that “the president was either misinformed or miseducated about Haiti and its people.” He said the Haitian Embassy was inundated with emails from Americans apologizing for what the president said.
Democrats were quick to note that Trump employs Haitians at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and that he praised Haitian Americans during a roundtable in Miami in September.
“Whether you vote for me or don’t vote for me, I really want to be your greatest champion, and I will be your champion,” Trump said at the roundtable.
Alix Desulme, a city council member in North Miami, home to thousands of Haitian Americans, said the president’s latest remarks were “disgusting.”
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God Jesus,” Desulme said. “I don’t know how much worse it can get.”
“This is very alarming. We know he’s not presidential, but this is a low,” he said. “It’s disheartening that someone who is the leader of the free world would use such demeaning language to talk about other folks, referring to folks of color.”
Trump’s critics also said racially incendiary language could damage relationships with foreign allies.
For many of Trump’s supporters, however, the comments may not prove to be particularly damaging. Trump came under fire from conservatives this week for seeming to suggest that he would be open to a comprehensive immigration reform deal without money for a border wall, before he quickly backtracked.
“He’s trying to win me back,” conservative author Ann Coulter, who has called for harsh limits on immigration, wrote on Twitter.
Outlining a potential bipartisan deal, the lawmakers discussed restoring protections for countries that have been removed from the temporary protected status (TPS) program while committing $1.5 billion for a border wall and making changes to the visa lottery system. Lawmakers mentioned that members of the Congressional Black Caucus had requested that some African countries be included in a deal, according to a White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private conversation.
The exchange was “salty” on all sides, this person said, with the president growing profane and animated while discussing immigrants from other countries. “It did not go well,” this person said.
[Trump wants to remove these immigrants. An ugly bit of history tells us what it could do to the economy.]
The administration announced this week that it was removing TPS status for citizens of El Salvador. Haitians were added to the TPS program because of a strong earthquake that devastated Haiti eight years ago.
Trump had seemed amenable to a deal earlier in the day during phone calls with lawmakers, aides said, but shifted his position in the meeting and did not seem interested in the bipartisan compromise.
The scene played out hurriedly in the morning. Graham and Durbin thought they would be meeting with Trump alone and were surprised to find immigration hard-liners such as Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) at the meeting. White House and Capitol Hill aides say Stephen Miller, the president’s top immigration official, was concerned there could be a deal proposed that was too liberal and made sure conservative lawmakers were present.
After the meeting, Marc Short, Trump’s director of legislative affairs, said the White House was nowhere near a bipartisan agreement on immigration.
“We still think we can get there,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at the daily White House news briefing.
Ed O’Keefe, Maria Sacchetti and Erica Werner contributed to this report.
