President Trump on Friday addressed reports that he referred to some immigrants as coming from “shithole countries,” tweeting to his followers that it wasn’t the language he used.
“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!” Trump tweeted.
The tweet appeared to reference the heated Oval Office meeting in which he reportedly made the comment that Haiti, El Salvador and several African nations were “shithole countries.”
“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump said, according to The Washington Post, which first reported his comments on Thursday.{mosads}
Trump did not specify in his tweet Friday morning which language he did use, but only said it was “tough.”
Later Friday morning, Trump again refuted reports saying he “never said anything derogatory.”
“Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country,” Trump tweeted. “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’s comments come as a bipartisan group of senators works to reach a deal to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients as part of a government funding bill. Lawmakers are scrambling to reach a deal by Jan. 19, when government funding runs out and a government shutdown would occur.
The president has demanded that in exchange for DACA protections, the bill must also include a border security package with funding for a border wall with Mexico and changes to the State Department’s diversity visa lottery program and family-based immigration policies.
Senators said Thursday that they had reached a deal, but they are now faced with pushback from both Trump and party leadership.