President in new racism wrangle over claims he called nations ‘s**tholes’

OUTRAGE has been sparked across the globe as Donald Trump allegedly branded a number of c ountr ie s “s**tholes”.

While the US President insisted at a private meeting in the Oval Office he did not say anything derogatory about Haitians and appeared to deny calling any countries “s**tholes”, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who was present, insisted he had repeatedly “said things which are hatefilled, vile and racist”.

He claimed Mr Trump did indeed call some African nations “s**tholes”.

On Thursday, the Washington Post, the New York Times, Politico and the Wall Street Journal all reported the alleged comments, quoting witnesses or people briefed on the meeting. The White House initially did not deny them.

At the meeting to discuss immigration reform, which was attended by Democrat and Republican lawmakers, the President was said to have argued that instead of granting temporary residency to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, America should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway.

“Why are we having all these people from s**thole countries come here?” the Washington Post quoted him as saying, in remarks thought to be about Haiti, El Salvador and Africa. Mr Durbin said when Mr Trump was told that the largest groups of immigrants with temporary protected status were from Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador, the President replied: “Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out.

“Why do we want all these people from Africa here?”

However, Mr Trump took to Twitter to deny the claim, saying: “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 African Union said it was frankly alarmed by the words attr ibuted to the President, while Haiti claimed they reflected a “racist view” of its country.

Bot s wana summoned t he US ambassador to express its displeasure at “highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist” comments.