Global response to Trump’s “s***hole” remarks

Digital Originals

(FILES) This file photo taken on January 9, 2018 shows US President Donald Trump (C) and US Senator Dick Durbin (L), D-Illinios, listen as US Congressman Steny Hoyer (R), D-Maryland speaks during a meeting with bipartisan members of the Senate on immigration at the White House in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON
Published January 12, 2018 at 2:42 PM
Updated January 12, 2018 at 2:43 PM

Reportedly using vulgar language, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and “s***-hole countries” in Africa rather than places like Norway. On Friday he denied using that language.

Global reaction to Trump’s reported remarks has been both swift and critical. Below are a collection of responses from world leaders, starting with countries Trump allegedly disparaged.

El Salvador

El Salvador’s foreign minister, Hugo Martinez, told The Washington Post,”It’s always been a foreign policy priority of our government to fight for the respect and dignity of our countrymen independent of their immigration status.” Martinez also added, “Our countrymen are hard-working people, who are always contributing to the countries where they’re living and, of course, also in our country.”

In a series of Tweets Friday morning, Martinez also pointed out El Salvador’s historic support for the United States in its time of need:

“In this note we highlight the high value of Salvadorans and remember how Salvadoran compatriots were those who worked on the reconstruction of the Pentagon, after the lamentable terrorist attacks of 2001; Salvadorans who contributed to the reconstruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, those who contributed along with the United States and other nations in various peace missions.”

https://twitter.com/HugoMartinezSV/status/951844665296334849

“Within the framework of the principles that govern relations between the States,” Marinez continued, “El Salvador demands respect for the dignity of its noble and courageous people.”

Haiti

Haitians reacted with outrage Friday to Trump’s reported remarks to describe the country on the eve of the anniversary of the 2010 earthquake–one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history.

President Jovenel Moise’s government issued a strongly worded statement against what it called a “racist” depiction of Haiti.

“The Haitian government condemns in the strongest terms these abhorrent and obnoxious remarks which, if proven, reflect a totally erroneous and racist view of the Haitian community and its contribution to the United States,” it said.

The government statement also pointed to history, noting that Haitian soldiers fought on the American side against the British in the Revolutionary War and in the War of 1812.

“The relationship between the two countries has been strengthened by the fact that millions of sons and daughters of Haiti have contributed and will continue to contribute to the prosperity and greatness of America,” it said.

Haitian Sen. Yuri Latortue said the reported remarks were also galling because they came just before the United States marks the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.

“Mr. Trump spits on the assassination of this black American icon, as well as on a whole generation of young people, black and white, who gave their lives in the civil rights movement,” he said.

Former Prime Minister Laurant Lamothe said Trump showed “a lack of respect and ignorance” not previously shown by a U.S. president and “the world is witnessing a new low today.”

According to the Washington Post, Haitian Ambassador Paul G. Altidor said the embassy in Washington was flooded with messages from Americans apologizing for Trump’s remark, which he found heartening.

The African Union

According to the Associated Press, the continental body of the African Union said it was “frankly alarmed” by President Trump’s comments.

“Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behavior and practice,” AU spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo said.

Senegal

Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, said he was “shocked” by Trump’s comments. Africa and those of African ancestry “deserves the respect and consideration of all,” he wrote on Twitter.

South Sudan

“Unless it was specifically said about South Sudan, we have nothing to say,” South Sudan government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told the AP.

South Africa

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress called Trump’s comments “extremely offensive,” while opposition leader Mmusi Maimane said “the hatred of Obama’s roots now extends to an entire continent.”

Uganda

Uganda’s state minister for international relations, Henry Okello Oryem, called the remarks “unfortunate and regrettable” and hoped that heads of state will reply at an African Union summit later this month.

Botswana

Botswana’s government called Trump’s comment “reprehensible and racist,” saying the U.S. ambassador had been summoned to clarify whether the country was regarded so poorly after years of cordial relations. Senegal’s President Macky Sall said he was shocked and that “Africa and the black race merit the respect and consideration of all.”

On Twitter, Botswana’s Ministry of International Affairs & Cooperation stated that it had “summoned the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana to express its displeasure at the alleged utterances…”

Kenya

Though Kenya has not made a formal response to Trump’s reported remarks, prominent Kenyan politician Boniface Mwangi did not lack for adjectives describing the U.S. president: “your embarrassment of a president is senile, impeach him and save yourselves from never-ending shame.”

“How America elected a narcissist, racist, white supremacist to be their president defies logic. Africa sends love and light to America,” Mwangi tweeted Friday, adding a blunt hashtag for good measure.

Mwangi also said: “Please don’t confuse the … leaders we Africans elect with our beautiful continent.” He later told the AP that “Africa gave America the greatest president ever” in Barack Obama. “It is actually a disgrace for one of the best men to occupy that office to be succeeded by an idiot.”

Ghana

Ras Mubarak, member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency in Ghana called for a boycott by developing countries against the United States until Trump leaves office. “The sooner he is made aware that America needs the world and the world needs America the better it is for all of us,” Ras Mubarak said.

Norway

Al Jazeera journalist Whitney Hurst attempted to get a response on Trump’s alleged remarks from Norway Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide before a meeting with the U.N. secretary-general. Here was her response:

https://twitter.com/whitney_hurst/status/951824648299261953

United Nations

On Friday, the United Nations human rights office labeled Trump’s words as “racist” and inciting xenophobia.

“These are shocking and shameful comments from the President of the United States. There is no other word one can use but ‘racist,'” said U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville at a Geneva news briefing.

“You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as ‘s***holes,’ whose entire populations, who are not white, are therefore not welcome,” he continued. “It’s about opening the door to humanity’s worst side, about validating and encouraging racism and xenophobia that will potentially disrupt and destroy the lives of many people.”

The World Bank

The World Bank on Friday tweeted that sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth this year is forecast at 3.2 percent. That was the U.S. economy’s annual rate of growth from July through September, according to Commerce Department data last month.

Includes reporting from Associated Press, National Public Radio, Al Jazeera.