Haiti, U.N., African Countries Decry Trump’s ‘Racist’ Remark

In the wake of President Trump’s disparaging remarks about Haiti, El Salvador, and countries in Africa, many—including the U.N. Human Rights office—have independently decried the commentary as racist. The Haitian government issued a formal statement on Friday noting that Trump’s description of Haiti as a “shithole” is “insulting and reprehensible” and “reflects a totally erroneous and racist view of the Haitian community and its contribution to the United States.” The African Union continental body told The Associated Press that it was “frankly alarmed” by the reported remarks, which were evidently exchanged during a meeting on immigration. “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,” African Union spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo told the news agency. Botswana’s government also called the comment “reprehensible and racist.” Several countries called on their American ambassadors to explain the president’s behavior in person. “These are shocking and shameful comments from the President of the United States,” said Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. “I’m sorry, but there's no other word one can use but racist.”