The people of Trump’s “sh*thole countries” are firing back on Twitter
In the latest instance of President Donald Trump’s inflammatory language, the president called several nations “shithole countries” in a meeting about immigration on January 11th.
According to the Washington Post, during a meeting to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the president questioned why the United States would want immigrants from “shithole countries” like El Salvador, Haiti, and African nations. Trump later denied the remark in a January 12th tweet, but Senator Dick Durbin, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that the president had indeed made it.
Trump’s comment was widely condemned as offensive. A spokesperson for the U.N. described the remark as “racist.”
"You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as ‘shitholes’, whose entire populations, who are not white, are therefore not welcome," U.N. human rights spokesperson Rupert Colville said at a Geneva news briefing.
And people from these so-called “shithole countries” took to Twitter to show the president just how wrong he is.
Some pointed out how much people from “shithole countries” have done to contribute to the United States. false
Hey @realDonaldTrump @POTUS ,
This is my husband from the shithole country of Haiti! 3 deployments, over 40 months of spent away from his family, fighting to protect ungrateful ppl like yourself!!! #shitholepresident #ShitholeCountries #Haiti # pic.twitter.com/0NWo7Sy3Um— Nd_Fc (@NdFaCa) January 12, 2018
2016: No, we don't eat trees.
2017: No, every Haitian doesn't have Aids
2018: Not a #shithole countryHow bad some US citizens judge #Haiti…
— Amélie Baron (@Ameliebaron) January 12, 2018
Others pointed out how beautiful these countries are.
Hey #ShitHolePresident ! Here is what my #shithole looks like pic.twitter.com/CDIHKeYqCH
— Harold Isaac (@haroldisaac) January 12, 2018
Good morning from the greatest most beautiful “shithole country” in the world!!!
— Leanne Manas (@LeanneManas) January 12, 2018
Africa isn’t a shithole. It’s the most beautiful continent in the world. Beautiful,hardworking people. We have diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, cocoa, coffee, tea etc. Sadly we have #shithole leaders like Trump shitting on us everyday. pic.twitter.com/Vv4Wgtq4Pk
— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) January 12, 2018
Dear Donald Trump/@realDonaldTrump
I just wanted to show you the Africa I love. The land of endless possibilities. Unmatched beauty. The continent of strong, fearless, endearing, friendly and inspiring people. My photos from home. Regards and tsek, Ulrich. pic.twitter.com/Xs0nBj4SJ5
— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) January 12, 2018
This is Diani beach in Kenya. Does it meet the definition on #shithole? pic.twitter.com/FtrxdEem57
— Neil Ribeiro (@neilsribeiro) January 12, 2018
And one expat from Norway condemned Trump’s comment, too.
Dear @realDonaldTrump, I am a Norwegian living in South Africa, a country of natural beauty filled with people who are kind, smart & hard-working. The only #shithole is you.
— Stian Tvede Karlsen (@stiantkarlsen) January 12, 2018
Officials from the nations Trump had criticized spoke up as well.
Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe condemned Trump’s comment as “a new low.” false
And the president of El Salvador, Salvador Sanchez Ceren tweeted in Spanish that Trump’s comments had “struck at the dignity of Salvadorans,” according to The Guardian.
La declaración del Presidente de #EstadosUnidos golpea la dignidad del pueblo salvadoreño.
— Salvador Sánchez Cerén (@sanchezceren) January 12, 2018
The president of Senegal spoke up as well, saying he was “shocked by the words of President Trump,” according to a retweet translated by NBC.
President of Senegal: "I am shocked by the words of President Trump on Haiti and Africa. I reject them and condemn them vigorously. Africa and the black race deserves the respect and consideration of all." pic.twitter.com/vRHa3axXoN
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 12, 2018
Trump’s comments about countries populated by people of color is incredibly offensive. And while it’s not all that surprising that the 45th president would say something that causes people, including CNN anchor Don Lemon, to call him racist, we still need to speak up against this hateful rhetoric. We stand by the people of Haiti, El Salvador, and the African continent.
