Washington: "I am not a racist," US
President Donald Trump has said as he sought to steer clear of
the controversy surrounding his reported derogatory remarks
against immigrants from Haiti and Africa.
A row broke out last week over Trump's alleged use of the
word "shithole" to describe African nations.
Trump reportedly used the word to describe African
countries during an Oval Office meeting on Thursday with a
bipartisan group of six senators on immigration reform.
People briefed on the conversation also say that during
the meeting the president also questioned the need to admit
more Haitians to the US.
"No No I'm not a racist. I am the least racist person you
have ever interviewed. That I can tell you," Trump told
reporters in Florida when entering Trump International Golf
Course for a dinner with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
"Did you see what various senators in the room said about
my comments?" he said. "They weren't made."
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who attended the
lawmakers' meeting, said that "shithole" was the "exact word
used by the President, not just once but repeatedly".
"He said these hate filled things and he said them
repeatedly," Durbin said.
On Friday, the African Union expressed "dismay and
outrage" at the reports and demanded that Trump apologise.
At least four Democratic lawmakers said that they were
boycotting the State of the Union Address of the president to
protest against his alleged remarks.
However, one of the Republican Senators who attended
the meeting today claimed that Trump never used that word.
Trump has himself denied having used that word but has
admitted using "tough" language in the meeting.
PTI
