Republican Sen. David Perdue (Ga.) on Sunday said President Trump
Donald John TrumpHouse Democrat slams Donald Trump Jr. for ‘serious case of amnesia’ after testimony Skier Lindsey Vonn: I don’t want to represent Trump at Olympics Poll: 4 in 10 Republicans think senior Trump advisers had improper dealings with Russia MORE did not use the word “shithole” to refer to some African nations, Haiti, and El Salvador during a White House meeting with lawmakers.
During an interview on ABC’s “Meet the Press,” Perdue said the comment attributed to the president in The Washington Post is a “gross misrepresentation.”
Perdue was one of several lawmakers participating in a meeting with Trump last week, when the president reportedly referred to immigrants from African nations, El Salvador and Haiti as coming from "shithole countries."
“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump reportedly asked.
The White House last week did not deny that Trump made the comment.
But Perdue insisted on Sunday that the language reported by the newspaper was not used during the meeting.
“The gross misrepresentation was that language was used in there that was not used and also that the tone of that meeting was not contributory and not constructive,” the Georgia Republican said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamGOP and Dems bitterly divided by immigration We are running out of time to protect Dreamers US trade deficit rises on record imports from China MORE (R-S.C.), who was also present for the meeting, said in a Friday statement that he said "my piece" to Trump over the comments.
"Following comments by the President, I said my piece directly to him yesterday. The President and all those attending the meeting know what I said and how I feel. I've always believed that America is an idea, not defined by its people but by its ideals," Graham said.