Sen. Lindsey Graham has finally responded to reports that President Trump called Haiti and African nations “shithole countries” — but only acknowledged vaguely that the president made “comments.”
“Following comments by the President, I said my piece directly to him yesterday. The President and all those attending the meeting know what I said and how I feel,” said Graham, one of a handful of lawmakers present for the Oval Office meeting.
“I’ve always believed that America is an idea, not defined by its people but by its ideals. The American people will ultimately judge us on the outcome we achieve, not the process which led to it.”
Trump has denied reports that he said, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” during a discussion on African and Haitian immigrants — although Sen. Dick Durbin, who was also in the room, confirmed the widely leaked comments.
Durbin says that Graham “spoke up and made a direct comment on what the president said.”
“For him to confront the president as he did, literally sitting next to him, took extraordinary political courage and I respect him for it,” he told MSNBC.
“I appreciate Senator Durbin’s statements and have enjoyed working with him and many others on this important issue,” Graham said in his statement.