Twitter users tore into Republican commentator Tomi Lahren on Friday for defending President Trump after he told senators that some African nations are "shithole countries."
During a bipartisan immigration meeting on Thursday, Trump reportedly grew frustrated over the idea of restoring protections for immigrants from those nations and asked the room: “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?”
Lahren, a longtime advocate for the president, tweeted: “If they aren’t shithole countries, why don’t their citizens stay there? Let’s be honest. Call it like it is.”
If they aren’t shithole countries, why don’t their citizens stay there? Let’s be honest. Call it like it is.— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 12, 2018
"All these leftist pearl clutchers are so upset President Trump referred to some 'shithole' countries while they’ve spent the last 2 years+ telling us the USA is a shithole country not worth standing for. Please. Get over yourselves," the Fox News contributor said in a follow-up tweet. That led to a harsh backlash from several Twitter users, some of whom implied that America is not a shithole just because some Americans leave the country.
Why do you live/work in California/NYC instead of your native South Dakota? https://t.co/i6dO4Cdxry— andrew kaczynski???? (@KFILE) January 12, 2018
Hey Tomi, Washington Post shithole bureau chief here. Love your foreign affairs reporting. Did you know there are 8.7 million Americans living overseas? Can’t imagine why they would leave home. https://t.co/Vazd6Ts3Pe— Kevin Sieff (@ksieff) January 12, 2018
Not today, Tammy. https://t.co/DHS5NJ861b— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 12, 2018
Ethnocentrism. Noun. Viewing other cultures through your own perspective.#ShitholeCountries #Haitihttps://t.co/5wtdCfrb8G https://t.co/yz2ntwsS1L— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) January 12, 2018
This is a Fox News personality - echoing Trump bashing of Haiti, El Salvador, Africa... https://t.co/Fn6Mf1JOFW— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) January 12, 2018
Ok. You're a shithole. https://t.co/iRqYs5n04Y— Ben (@BenHowe) January 12, 2018
The Fox News contributor has stirred up controversy in the past for similar remarks on immigration and other related issues.
While the White House avoided denying the comments on Thursday night, the president denied saying anything vulgar about Haitians in a Friday tweet.