Haitian embassy thanks those who reached out after Trump's comments

In a statement issued around January 12, 2018, the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C., formally thanked the American public for an outpouring of support following widely reported derogatory comments about Haiti attributed to then-President Donald Trump. The embassy condemned the remarks as being based on stereotypes and expressed deep disappointment, while also celebrating the character of the Haitian people and their contributions to the United States.

The official response came after reports emerged from a private meeting at the White House where the president allegedly used vulgar language to describe Haiti and other nations.

Remarks During Immigration Meeting

The controversy began with reports from a bipartisan meeting held in the Oval Office on January 11, 2018, to discuss immigration policy, specifically related to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. During the discussion, President Trump reportedly grew frustrated with a proposal to restore protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and certain African countries.

According to accounts from people present, the president questioned why the United States should accept more immigrants from what he called “shithole countries.” He was also said to have specifically asked, “Why do we need more Haitians?” and suggested that the U.S. should instead encourage more immigration from countries like Norway, whose prime minister he had recently met.

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, a Democrat who was in the meeting, publicly confirmed the president’s use of the term and the specific comments about Haiti. The reports quickly circulated, generating significant domestic and international backlash.

The President’s Denial and Corroboration

President Trump took to Twitter on the morning of January 12 to dispute the accounts. He acknowledged that the language he used at the DACA meeting was “tough,” but stated that “this was not the language used.” He specifically denied making derogatory statements about Haitians, claiming the story was “made up by Dems.” He also asserted that he had a “wonderful relationship with Haitians.”

However, his denial was contradicted not only by Senator Durbin but also by Republican attendees. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who was also present, issued a statement noting that he had voiced his objection to the president directly during the meeting. It was also reported at the time that Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, was told by Graham that the accounts of the president’s comments were “basically accurate.”

Diplomatic and International Response

The impact of the reported remarks was immediate and global. The Haitian government summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Port-au-Prince to provide a formal explanation. The government of Botswana also asked the U.S. ambassador to clarify whether their country was included in the disparaging description.

The African Union, a continental body representing 55 member states, issued a statement expressing its alarm and dismay. A spokesperson said the organization was shocked by the comments and believed they flew in the face of accepted international behavior. The remarks were condemned as racist and damaging to U.S. relations with the continent.

Significance of the Timing

The timing of the incident was particularly painful for the Haitian community. The reports surfaced on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. That event resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and left the country’s infrastructure in ruins.

The anniversary is a solemn day of remembrance in Haiti and for the Haitian diaspora. The embassy’s statement highlighted this context, noting that the comments were made at a time when the Haitian people were commemorating the profound loss of life from the natural disaster. This timing was widely seen as adding a layer of cruelty to the remarks, which were viewed not just as a political statement but as an insult to a nation during a period of mourning.

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