What he called them · First term · № 69
Asked in an Oval Office immigration meeting why the U.S. took people from 'shithole countries'
“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? ... Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out. (as quoted by people briefed on the meeting, per The Washington Post)”
- Said
- , Oval Office meeting with senators on a bipartisan immigration deal
- Subject
- Haiti, El Salvador and African nations
- Target
- Other countries
- Place
- Haiti, El Salvador, Africa
- Topic
- Immigration
- Era
- First term
What happened
The Washington Post reported on January 11, 2018, citing several people briefed on the meeting, that Trump said this when lawmakers discussed protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries, and suggested the U.S. bring in more people from countries such as Norway. On January 12 he tweeted that 'this was not the language used' and that he 'Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is obviously a very poor and troubled country.' Haiti's government summoned the U.S. chargé d'affaires, and a U.N. human rights spokesman said the remarks, if confirmed, were 'shocking and shameful' and 'racist,' NPR reported. At a December 9, 2025 rally he recounted asking 'why is it we only take people from shithole countries' (see separate entry).
Sources
- Trump derides protections for immigrants from 'shithole' countries
- Tweets of January 12, 2018
- 'Racist' And 'Shameful': How Other Countries Are Responding To Trump's Slur
- Trump attacks protections for immigrants from 'shithole' countries in Oval Office meeting
- Speech: Donald Trump Holds a Political Rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania - December 9, 2025