PRESIDENT Donald Trump has questioned why the US accepts immigrants from 'shithole countries,' according to a report.
The US President was frustrated with lawmakers during a meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday while discussing protecting immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal.
The account of his remarks was told to The Washington Post by several people briefed on the meeting, according to the paper.
“Why are we having all these people from sh*thole countries come here?” Trump said, according to accounts, 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 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 is alleged to have said. “Take them out.”
Lawmakers were taken aback by the comments, according to people familiar with their reactions.
Senators Lindsey O. Graham and Richard J. Durbin had proposed cutting the visa lottery program by 50 percent and then prioritising 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, according to the paper.
Spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement: “Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people.
"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.”
