President Donald Trump responded early on Friday, Jan. 12, to criticism of words he allegedly spoke in a closed-door meeting with senators to describe third-world countries.
The Washington Post first reported Trump’s comment, allegedly laced with a single expletive on Thursday, citing people who were not present at the meeting but were “briefed” on it.
“The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used,” the president wrote on Twitter on Friday morning.
According to the Post’s unnamed sources, Trump told lawmakers, “Why do we want all these people from [expletive] countries coming here?”
Trump also denied saying that Haitians should be taken out of a potential immigration deal.
“Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Never said ‘take them out.’ Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings – unfortunately, no trust!”
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018
Citing “people familiar with the meeting,” the Post reported Trump saying, “Why do we need more Hatians? Take them out.”
While addressing the alleged language he used, Trump slammed the immigration deal that was presented at the meeting. Six senators, three Democrats, and three Republicans pitched a deal to Trump to save the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which gave a temporary legal status to illegal aliens brought to the United States as children.
Trump ended DACA in September and is using it as a bargaining chip to secure the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform package which includes funding for the border wall, limiting chain migration, and ending the lottery visa program in favor of a merit-based system.
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) January 12, 2018
….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….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018
“Because of the Democrats not being interested in life and safety, DACA has now taken a big step backwards,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “The Dems will threaten “shutdown,” but what they are really doing is shutting down our military, at a time we need it most.”
No details are available on the deal presented by the six senators: Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Cory Gardner (R-Co.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Michael Bennett (D-Co.), and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), according to Fox News.
“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 statement, according to Fox News. “We are now working to build support for that deal in Congress.”
Any deal to save DACA would require a clear message from Trump that he would sign it, Sen. John Cornyn told CNN.
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