{"slug":"trump-first-term-shithole-countries-comments","title":"Shithole Countries: Documented Racist Immigration Comments in White House Meeting","date":"2018-01-11","lastUpdated":"2018-01-12","description":"On January 11, 2018, during an Oval Office meeting with a bipartisan group of senators discussing immigration legislation, Trump asked why the United States would want to accept immigrants from Haiti and African countries, which he called 'shithole countries,' adding that the U.S. should instead take more people from Norway. The comments were reported by multiple senators present at the meeting. Senator Dick Durbin confirmed them directly. Senator Lindsey Graham reportedly confronted Trump about the remarks in the room. The White House issued a non-denial denial; Trump did not deny making the comments before later claiming he had not used those words.","summary":"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.","category":"civil-rights","severity":"major","ongoing":false,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/us/politics/trump-shithole-countries.html","title":"Trump Alarms Lawmakers With Disparaging Words for Haiti and Africa","publisher":"The New York Times"},{"url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-attacks-protections-for-immigrants-from-shithole-countries/2018/01/11/story.html","title":"Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as 'shithole countries'","publisher":"The Washington Post"},{"url":"https://apnews.com/article/trump-shithole-countries-haiti-africa-immigration","title":"Trump disparaged Haiti and African countries in immigration meeting","publisher":"The Associated Press"}],"draft":false,"status":"published","tags":["racism","immigration","Haiti","Africa","first-term","civil-rights","Oval-Office","shithole"],"relatedEntries":[],"timeline":[{"date":"2018-01-10","title":"Trump meets Norwegian prime minister — praises Norway","summary":"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."},{"date":"2018-01-11","title":"Oval Office immigration meeting — shithole comments made","summary":"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."},{"date":"2018-01-12","title":"Durbin confirms comments — Perdue and Cotton deny, White House issues non-denial","summary":"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."},{"date":"2018-01-12","title":"African Union, Haiti issue formal protests — UN raises concerns","summary":"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."}],"location":{"name":"Oval Office, Washington, D.C.","lat":38.8977,"lng":-77.0365},"custom":{"era":"first-term","posture":"reported","warCrimeClassification":"enabling","internationalLaw":[],"iccRelevance":false,"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","structuredPerpetrators":[{"name":"Donald Trump","role":"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","institution":"White House"}],"updateLog":[{"date":"2018-01-12","summary":"Based on January 12, 2018 reporting and Durbin confirmation."}]}}