Durbin dismisses 2 GOP senators’ claim
WASHINGTON — Sen. Dick Durbin is standing by his assertion that President Donald Trump questioned why the country has to accept immigrants from “shithole” countries, after two Republican colleagues belatedly disputed the Illinois Democrat.
“I know what happened. I stand behind every word that I said in terms of that meeting,” Durbin said on Monday about the president’s remarks at a White House meeting last week on immigration.
Durbin also dismissed reports attributed to unnamed White House aides that Trump said “shithouse” rather than “shithole.” He told reporters in Illinois, “I am stunned that this is their defense.”
Trump lashed out at Durbin on Monday, taking to Twitter to say he “totally misrepresented what was said” at a meeting.
Trump said Durbin “blew” efforts to reach a deal on immigration, including addressing the fate of people brought to the U.S. illegally as children who are covered under the program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
“Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals can’t get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military,” Trump tweeted.
Also on Sunday, conservative writer Rich Lowry suggested on ABC’s “This Week,” and a Washington Post reporter tweeted, that some White House aides believe Trump said “shithouse,” not “shithole.” While it hardly would change Trump’s meaning, the difference is said to be the basis for Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue R-Ga., to deny the president said what Durbin claimed.