Trump's derogatory remarks about certain nations spark outrage

US President Donald Trump’s derogatory remarks about certain nations, which he described as “shithole countries”, have prompted rebuke from around the world and once again raised questions about the billionaire's racist attitude, with one lawmaker saying racism is in his Trump’s DNA.

At a closed-door meeting intended to discuss a way forward on an immigration deal in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump reportedly asked lawmakers, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" According to several people briefed on the meeting, Trump was referring to Haiti, El Salvador and certain African countries.

Trump denied saying "anything derogatory" about the people of Haiti, and instead blamed the media for distorting his words. He said that his description of "shithole" was not racist but rather a straightforward assessment of some nations' depressed conditions.

His remarks, however, drew harsh criticism from African nations. Haiti summoned the top American diplomat there and Botswana summoned the US top envoy on Friday over the president's inflammatory remarks.

The US State Department said American diplomats in Haiti and Botswana had been briefed to convey Washington's respect if summoned to explain themselves.

Haitians living in Miami, Florida, also expressed their anger about Trump's disparaging comments, when they gathered to mark the 8th anniversary of a massive earthquake, which killed more than 300,000 people by some estimates and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes in Haiti.

The African Union also described Trump's racist remarks as “upsetting." The union’s spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo said Trump's comments were alarming and surprising, particularly "given that so many Africans arrived in the US as slaves."

The US president’s racist remarks also drew criticism inside the country on Friday. His Democratic opponent in the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton, reprimanded his “ignorant, racist views” in a Friday tweet. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders also accused Trump of “racist ramblings.” 

US Representative for Illinois John Lewis said on Friday that racism “must be in his [Trump’s] DNA.”

His contentious remarks also drew criticism from the media with a CNN host who declared Trump as a racist. “The president of the United States is racist,” Don Lemon proclaimed. “A lot of us already knew that.”

Trump’s remarks sparked reaction from politicians on the other side of the world.

EA