via Washington Post:
President Trump grew frustrated with lawmakers Thursday in the Oval Office when they discussed granting entry to immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal, according to several people briefed on the meeting.
“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump said, according to these people, referring to countries mentioned by the lawmakers.
Trump then suggested that the United States should instead bring more people from countries like Norway, whose prime minister he met with Wednesday. The president, according to a White House official, also suggested he would be open to more immigrants from Asian countries because he felt they help the United States economically.
The remarks have sparked a strong backlash:
Racist. Xenophobic. Inhuman.
This should be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all Christians, especially our leaders. (And by every other U.S. citizen as well.) https://t.co/vw4QGWcaaD pic.twitter.com/sSbZK2PXPR
— Michael Bayer (@mbayer1248) January 11, 2018
This has always been the reality: Not everyone who supports Trump is a racist, but they do not consider racism to be disqualifying in the President of the United States. https://t.co/imS342321u
— Michael Gerson (@MJGerson) January 11, 2018
I won’t use the word Trump did because it’s a crude and inaccurate way to describe human beings and places, but remember Jesus was born in a dusty town few valued. That’s where Christians believe God chose to become human. Not a rich country. God is a God of forgotten immigrants.
— John Gehring (@gehringdc) January 11, 2018
Here is my statement on the President’s comments today: pic.twitter.com/EdtsFjc2zL
— Rep. Mia Love (@RepMiaLove) January 11, 2018
“Why are we having all these people from sh#*hole countries come here?”
1) They are our brothers and sisters in need.
2) They are often fleeing war, violence or famine.
3) There are children among them.
4) It’s the right thing to do.
5) That’s who we are.https://t.co/vQKrB7vyYv— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) January 11, 2018
Where we identify value will tell us a lot about our own souls. A narcissist can only find value where he identifies personal benefit.
— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) January 12, 2018