The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff, Wire Reports
Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:21 PM
President Trump's Use Of Vulgar Language During Thursday Meeting On Immigration Sparks S$#$ Storm Across Aisle
President Trump’s early-Friday denial
that he used vulgar language in reference to immigration from certain
countries only fueled the Capitol Hill furor over the remarks, with one
leading Democrat standing by press accounts and accusing the president
of using “hate-filled” language.
Two Republicans, meanwhile, said they could "not recall" the president
using the language -- following reports that he questioned why the U.S.
was taking immigrants from “s---hole” countries.
In a flurry of tweets Friday morning, Trump had both defended his
immigration stance while claiming the reports about his meeting with
senators were inaccurate.
“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 early Friday.
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
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!
But Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who was in the room, later told reporters
the accounts of Trump’s comments were accurate.
“He said these hate-filled things, and he said them repeatedly,” Durbin
said, calling the words “vile and racist.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., whom Durbin said voiced objections to
Trump’s comments during the meeting, did not dispute the reported
remarks in a statement Friday.
“Following comments by the President, I said my piece directly to him
yesterday. The President and all those attending the meeting know what I
said and how I feel. I’ve always believed that America is an idea, not
defined by its people but by its ideals,” he said, adding that he
appreciated Durbin’s statements and has “enjoyed working with him and
many others on this important issue.”
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a prominent GOP critic of the president, also
tweeted that, “The words used by the President, as related to me
directly following the meeting by those in attendance, were not ‘tough,’
they were abhorrent and repulsive.”
Even Trump’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton weighed in, tweeting that the
eight-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake should be a time to
remember the tragedy, but, “Instead, we‘re subjected to Trump’s
ignorant, racist views of anyone who doesn’t look like him.”
Yet Sens. David Perdue, R-Ga., and Tom
Cotton, R-Ark., seemed to back the president in a written statement
saying:
"President Trump brought everyone to the table this week and listened to
both sides. But regrettably, it seems that not everyone is committed to
negotiating in good faith. In regards to Senator Durbin’s accusation, we
do not recall the President saying these comments specifically but what
he did call out was the imbalance in our current immigration system,
which does not protect American workers and our national interest."
The “language” the president referred to came during talks Thursday with
lawmakers at the White House. Despite Trump's denial, multiple sources
have confirmed what was said, and the White House did not deny it
overnight.
“Why are we having all these people from s---hole countries come here?”
the president said, according to sources. Trump reportedly was talking
about countries in Africa, while also questioning why the U.S. would
accept more immigrants from Haiti.
Durbin added, "When the question was asked about Haitians ... he said,
`Haitians? Do we need more Haitians?"'
Trump took particular issue with the characterization of his comments on
Haiti.
"Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is,
obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said 'take them out.'
Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably
should record future meetings - unfortunately, no trust!" Trump tweeted.
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is,
obviously, a very poor and troubled country. 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 accounts of the meeting drew condemnation from global leaders as
well as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.
Utah Republican Rep. Mia Love, a Haitian-American, said the president's
comments were "unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our
nation's values."
Amid the backlash, the president on Friday also slammed the supposed
“DACA deal,” which a group senators were hammering out with the goal of
extending protection for young illegal immigrants brought to the country
as children. Trump on Friday detailed what he thinks is missing from the
plan.
“The so-called bipartisan DACA deal presented yesterday to myself and a
group of Republican Senators and Congressman was a big step backwards.
Wall was not properly funded, Chain & Lottery were made worse and USA
would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime
countries which are doing badly,” Trump tweeted Friday.
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
The so-called bipartisan DACA deal presented yesterday to myself and a
group of Republican Senators and Congressmen was a big step backwards.
Wall was not properly funded, Chain & Lottery were made worse and USA
would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime.....
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
....countries which are doing badly. I want a merit based system of
immigration and people who will help take our country to the next level.
I want safety and security for our people. I want to stop the massive
inflow of drugs. I want to fund our military, not do a Dem defund....
7:09 AM - Jan 12, 2018
13,283 13,283 Replies 17,624 17,624 Retweets 74,246 74,246 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy
The reference to high-crime countries seemed to be an explanation of the
concerns Trump expressed about certain nations at Thursday's meeting.
The "deal" in question was floated by a group of six senators—Republican
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Cory Gardner, R-Colo.,
and Democratic Sens. Durbin, Michael Bennett, D-Colo., and Robert
Menendez, D-N.J. They did not detail what was included in their deal.
“We have been working for four months and have reached an agreement in
principle that addresses border security, the diversity visa lottery,
chain migration/family reunification, and the Dream Act –the areas
outlined by the president,” the senators wrote in a joint statement. “We
are now working to build support for that deal in Congress.”
Democrats are working to preserve the Obama-era Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals program, which was ended by Trump in September.
Trump has said he will only agree to a deal with Congress on immigration
if it includes funding for his wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I want a merit based system of immigration and people who will help
take our country to the next level. I want safety and security for our
people. I want to stop the massive inflow of drugs. I want to fund our
military, not do a Dem defund,” Trump tweeted minutes later Friday.
Fox News' Alex Pappas, John Roberts and Serafin Gomez and The Associated
Press contributed to this report.
