President voices his frustration at US accepting migrants ‘from sh--hole countries’
DONALD TRUMP has reportedly expressed frustration at America’s immigration policy, asking a White House gathering of politicians why the US accepted people from “sh--hole countries” and could not have more people from nations like Norway.
The US president convened yesterday’s meeting to discuss reforming immigration policy, and one of the politicians inside the Oval Office suggested that a deal could be reached if Mr Trump agreed to restore protection for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries.
“Why are we having all these people from sh--hole countries come here?” the president responded, according to two people who spoke to The Washington Post. The paper said he was referring to African countries and Haiti.
He then reportedly suggested that the US should instead bring in more people from countries like Norway, whose prime minister he met on Wednesday. His remarks reportedly left the assembled politicians “taken aback”, with Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator for South Carolina, and Richard Durbin, Democratic sena- tor for Illinois, in the room.
The two were reportedly surprised to be joined by Bob Goodlatte, a Republican congressman for Virginia, and Tom Cotton, senator for Arkansas, both immigration hardliners. The meeting was impromptu and came after phone calls yesterday morning, Capitol Hill aides said. They had raised the issue of reducing the visa lottery and restoring protections for countries that have been removed from the temporary protected status programme, in return for an additional $1.5 billion (£1.1billion) for a border wall.
A White House spokesman declined to comment on Mr Trump’s remarks.
Earlier in the day, Mr Trump spoke to The Wall Street Journal, and claimed that he has developed a positive relationship with North Korea’s leader.
“I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un,” he said, despite there being no formal contact between US and North Korean officials in decades.
“I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised.” Asked if he has spoken with Mr Kim, Mr Trump replied: “I’m not saying I have or haven’t. I don’t want to comment.”