Jake Tapper just released a few tweets explaining why Trump may be correct in denying that the reported language used in that meeting wasn’t exactly what was said:
So how and why is President Trump denying the remarks that he reportedly said?
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 12, 2018
I have some clarifying reporting from a source familiar the meeting. I want to start by saying that this does not make what he said any more acceptable, but it might shed some light on it all. 1/
The president did not refer to Haiti as a “shithole” country according to the source familiar with the meeting… though he DID say it about countries in Africa...
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 12, 2018
What happened, the source says, is there was a conflation of two different remarks by the president. 2/
First, when talking about “temporary protected status” countries as part of the immigration deal it was mentioned that Salvadorans, Hondurans and Haitians have that status. 3/
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 12, 2018
“Haitians?” the president said. “Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out” —- meaning take them out of the deal.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 12, 2018
4/
Then in a separate part of the conversation when they were referencing the diversity visa lottery, President Trump referred to people coming from Africa as coming from “shithole countries.”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 12, 2018
Again, I’m not saying this is better. Just that this is what happened, per my source. 5/
6/ So that might explain the kinda-pushback from POTUS today. -fin-
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 12, 2018
There has been so much angst and outrage over these comments and now we find out they weren’t exactly what was reported. I mean, he still said it about Africa, but not about Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti.
Trump should have never said it about any country, especially considering he was meeting with a group of bipartisan senators, over half of which would love to see him impeached. Of course they were the ones who leaked it and intentionally conflated the two comments to set off this outrage fest over racism.
Trump needs to learn to control himself better (I know, I know) because his political enemies will use everything they can to disparage and hurt him.
UPDATE:
While I was writing this, Trump tweeted this:
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