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Shithole Countries: Documented Racist Immigration Comments in White House Meeting

The meeting was called to discuss a bipartisan immigration framework. Present were Senators Durbin (D-IL), Graham (R-SC), Flake (R-AZ), Perdue (R-GA), Cotton (R-AR), and others, along with DHS Secretary Nielsen. Multiple attendees confirmed the substance of the comments. The 'shithole' characterization was directed at Haiti and African nations; Trump contrasted them with Norway, where he had met with the prime minister the previous day. Nielsen testified to Congress that she did not recall the exact words used. Perdue and Cotton initially said they didn't recall the comments then claimed Trump hadn't used those specific words — a position contradicted by Durbin's direct confirmation and Graham's reported in-room response.

Record summary

Grade

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Executive actions that exceed constitutional authority, circumvent statutory constraints, or weaponize government institutions for political ends. Scale and definitions

Status
Concluded
Incident date
Record updated
Location
Oval Office, Washington, D.C.
Category
Civil Rights
Legal posture
Reported
War-crime classification
Enabling conduct
Verification
Independently verified
ICC relevance
No
Sources
3 cited
Stable ID
trump-first-term-shithole-countries-comments
Victims
Citizens and residents of Haiti and African nations subjected to racist characterization by the U.S. president; immigrants from these countries whose immigration prospects were shaped by racist policy discussions; diplomatic relationships between the U.S. and affected nations
Alleged responsible parties
  • Donald Trump, President; made racist characterizations of majority-Black countries in an immigration policy discussion; contrasted them favorably with a predominantly white European country; initially declined to deny the comments— White House

Key points

  • Senator Dick Durbin, who was present at the January 11, 2018 Oval Office meeting, confirmed that Trump said 'shithole countries' in reference to Haiti and African nations; Durbin described the comments as 'hate-filled, vile, and racist'; he stated the words were used clearly and were not ambiguous
  • Trump's immediate response was a tweet not denying the specific words but characterizing his language as 'tough' rather than racist: 'The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used'; this was widely interpreted as a non-denial; he later directly denied using the words
  • The meeting's context revealed the policy meaning of the comments: Trump contrasted Haiti and Africa (majority-Black populations) unfavorably with Norway (predominantly white) in discussing which immigrants the United States should accept; the comments were made in the context of debating a bipartisan immigration framework and Trump's opposition to diversity-based immigration programs
  • Senators Perdue and Cotton initially said they 'didn't recall' the comments before later claiming Trump hadn't used those specific words; Senator Graham reportedly objected to the comments in the room and confirmed their substance publicly; DHS Secretary Nielsen testified to Congress she did not recall the exact language used despite being present
  • The African Union and governments of affected countries issued formal protests; the Haitian government summoned the U.S. ambassador for an explanation; UN Human Rights experts stated the comments appeared to have 'racist dimensions' and 'no justification'
  • The 'shithole' comment occurred in a pattern of other documented racially charged statements about immigration: Trump had previously asked why the U.S. was accepting immigrants from Haiti (all have AIDS), Nigeria (would never go back to their huts), and characterized Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists at his 2015 campaign announcement; the January 2018 comment was consistent with this documented pattern

Overview

Multiple senators present at the meeting confirmed what was said. Senator Durbin confirmed it directly and publicly, in detail. The White House issued a response that did not deny the specific words before Trump later claimed he hadn't used them.

The words described majority-Black countries as holes to be avoided while praising a predominantly white European country as the source of desirable immigrants.

The Meeting

The meeting was about immigration legislation. A bipartisan group of senators had assembled a framework they thought could get 60 votes. They brought it to the Oval Office to discuss.

Trump's question about why the United States would want people from "shithole countries" rather than from Norway came in the context of debating which immigrants should be admitted. The contrast was specific: Haiti and African nations on one side, Norway on the other. He had met with Norway's prime minister the day before and expressed admiration for Norway.

The policy content of the comment was explicit: immigrants from majority-Black countries were undesirable. Immigrants from a predominantly white European country were desirable.

The Confirmation

Dick Durbin was in the room. He confirmed the words publicly. He described them as hate-filled, vile, and racist. He has not retracted that description.

Graham reportedly objected in the meeting. He later confirmed the substance without denying the specifics.

Perdue and Cotton's account evolved from "we don't recall" to "he didn't say those specific words" — a significant shift that analysts noted was different from a denial.

Nielsen said she did not recall the exact language. She was present.

The Pattern

The "shithole" comment was not an isolated incident. Trump had previously said Haitian immigrants "all have AIDS," that Nigerian immigrants would "never go back to their huts," and opened his 2015 campaign by calling Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals. The January 2018 comments were consistent with a documented pattern of racial characterizations in immigration discussions that spanned years.

Update log

  1. Based on January 12, 2018 reporting and Durbin confirmation.

Sequence of events

  1. Trump meets Norwegian prime minister — praises Norway

    Trump meets with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg the day before the immigration meeting. He expresses admiration for Norway. The following day, in the immigration meeting, he cites Norway as the type of country the U.S. should recruit immigrants from.

  2. Oval Office immigration meeting — shithole comments made

    In an Oval Office meeting with bipartisan senators, Trump asks why the U.S. would accept immigrants from 'shithole countries' (Haiti and African nations) rather than from Norway. Senator Graham reportedly objects in the room. Multiple senators confirm the substance of the comments.

  3. Durbin confirms comments — Perdue and Cotton deny, White House issues non-denial

    Senator Durbin confirms Trump used the words 'shithole countries.' Senators Perdue and Cotton initially say they don't recall before later claiming Trump didn't use those specific words — contradicting Durbin. The White House tweets a non-denial denial.

  4. African Union, Haiti issue formal protests — UN raises concerns

    The African Union issues a formal protest demanding an apology. The Haitian government summons the U.S. ambassador. UN Human Rights experts state the comments appeared to have racist dimensions. Trump denies having used the words.

Sources

  1. Trump Alarms Lawmakers With Disparaging Words for Haiti and Africa — The New York Times
  2. Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as 'shithole countries' — The Washington Post
  3. Trump disparaged Haiti and African countries in immigration meeting — The Associated Press

How this record was published

Manually curated This entry was added directly and does not carry an automated audit trail.

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