
• Botswana issued a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump's reported comments about Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries being "shithole countries."
• Its government summoned the US ambassador, seeking to clarify whether the US regards Botswana as a "shithole" country.
• Many supporters and critics swiftly condemned the president's comments, while some of his biggest supporters defended him.



 The government of Botswana issued a blistering statement Friday in response to President Donald Trump's reported remarks about "shithole countries."

Botswana's Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation (MIAC) called on the US Ambassador to Botswana "to express its displeasure at the alleged utterances made by the President of the US..."

MIAC also asked the ambassador to clarify if the US regards Botswana as a "shithole" country, adding that Trump's comments were "highly irresponsible, reprehensible, and racist."

During a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on immigration Thursday, Trump criticized protections the US gives to immigrants from various underdeveloped countries, including Haiti, El Salvador, and some African countries.

"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump said, according to media accounts and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.

Trump has railed against the diversity visa lottery program and special temporary status protections that bring in at least 50,000 immigrants from around the world and allow them to reside in the US legally. His reported remarks took place in the context of a debate over the merits of those programs.

Botswana wasn't the only country to lash out against the president's comments. Paul Altidor, Haiti's Ambassador to the US, told an NBC News contributor that he and the Haitian government "vehemently condemn" Trump's statement.

"Either the president has been misinformed or he is miseducated," Altidor said, adding that Haiti's government also formally summoned a US official to explain the comments.

Trump's statement provoked a visceral response as observers around the world condemned it. The UN's Human Rights body said "there is no other word one can use but 'racist'" to describe it.

Some Trump supporters backed the president by arguing in defense of the spirit of what he was trying to say — that Americans do not benefit from taking in immigrants from third-world countries.

On Friday, Trump took to Twitter to defend using "tough" language, but said he "never said anything derogatory" about Haitians and suggested he should record future meetings with lawmakers.</s>Former governor general Michaelle Jean was among those Canadians who sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday for reportedly using vulgar language to describe Haiti and countries in Africa.

Jean, who was born in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and is currently secretary general of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, called Trump’s reported remarks “insulting.”

“It was so disturbing this morning to hear President Trump’s comments reported all over the news calling my poor native land and African countries ‘shithole’ nations,” Jean said in a statement to The Canadian Press. “It is such an insult before humanity.”

Trump was widely reported on Thursday to have questioned in a meeting with lawmakers why the United States should accept more immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa rather than from places such as Norway.

On Friday morning, Trump tweeted that he used “tough” language at the meeting, but not the reported vulgarity. Still, Jean, 60, who was Canada’s governor general from 2005 to 2010, made no bones about her feelings.

“For the first representative of the United States of America to speak in such a manner is quite troubling and offensive,” Jean said in the statement.

Jean, a refugee from Haiti who came to Canada in 1968 and was raised in Thetford Mines, Que., also noted that Friday was the eighth anniversary of a devastating earthquake that struck her native country, one of 57 member French-language countries — many from Africa — that form La Francophonie.

Speaking in London, Ont., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would not “opine on what the president may or may not have said” but called Canada a country of openness and respect.

Trump’s reported comments were also taken personally by Dr. Andrew Furey, an orthopedic surgeon in St. John’s, N.L., and founder of Team Broken Earth, a group of medical professionals who responded to the Haitian earthquake in 2010 and has since returned to the country several times.
• After Trump (sort of) denies ‘shithole’ comment, Democrat asserts Trump said ‘these hate-filled things’
• Trump says he wants fewer immigrants from ‘shithole countries’ in Africa, more from places like Norway
• What does the governor general do all day? A National Post investigation

“In addition to being insulting to us, more importantly it’s quite disrespectful and insulting to the people that we’re trying to help and the friends and colleagues that we’ve made there over the last eight years,” Furey said in an interview. “It’s profoundly disappointing to hear someone in that office use that language.”

While Trump’s various statements have frequently been deemed offensive, Furey said that’s no reason to accept them. It’s incumbent on everyone as global citizens, he said, to challenge the president’s views on countries outside the U.S., especially those that are poor and in need.

Some have defended Trump’s pronouncements as straight talk.

“Trump is absolutely right,” said Mamady Traore, 30, a sociologist in Guinea. “When you have heads of state who mess with the constitutions to perpetuate their power. When you have rebel factions that kill children, disembowel women as saints, who mutilate innocent civilians.”

Others, like former Canadian prime minister Kim Campbell, denounced the president’s “abominable and ignorant” views and statements.

“(I) have known many fine Haitians — including a former governor general of Canada,” Campbell said in a tweet. “Trump is unworthy to speak of them!”

In Montreal, Marjorie Villefranche, director of La Maison d’Haiti, a prominent cultural and community centre, called the president’s views “ridiculous.”

“I don’t know what kind of brain he has because he just forgets the history of the world,” Villefranche said. “He forgets the U.S. is an immigrant country.”

The African Union said it was “frankly alarmed” by Trump’s comments.

“Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behaviour and practice,” union spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo said. Botswana’s government called Trump’s comment “reprehensible and racist,” while Senegal’s President Macky Sall said he was shocked.</s>Do you live in one of the countries US President Donald Trump described as a "shithole"? We want to hear from you. Share video or text comments via WhatsApp/iMessage/text +1 347-322-0415

(CNN) President Donald Trump's complaints about immigrants coming to the United States from "shithole countries" have prompted condemnation from around the world.

US Democratic and Republican lawmakers criticized those comments as "divisive" and "unacceptable," while Haiti summoned the top American diplomat there to discuss Trump's remarks.

Trump's reported comments, made at closed-door White House talks on an immigration deal, were a reaction to a plan to cut the number of people entering the United States through its visa lottery program. According to CNN sources, lawmakers proposed reducing the number by half, with the rest going to underrepresented countries in Africa and nations with temporary protected status, or TPS.

UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville condemned Trump's remarks as "shocking and shameful" and going against the world's "universal values."

"I'm sorry, but there's no other word one can use but racist," Colville said, responding to reporters at a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland. "You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as 'shitholes' whose entire populations, who are not white, are therefore not welcome."

"Shocking and shameful": comments from the President of the United States go "against universal values" according to @UNHumanRights spox Rupert Colville speaking in Geneva today pic.twitter.com/a5D6v4E4mg — UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) January 12, 2018

Trump on Friday denied describing certain nations in such vulgar terms , tweeting: "The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used."

The furor comes as Haiti prepares to commemorate eight years since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed hundreds of thousands and displaced many more.

As a result of that disaster, Haitians were accorded TPS in the United States, granted to individuals from countries where conditions such as war, natural disasters or political strife prevent them from returning safely.

Haiti's government said in a statement Friday that it is "deeply shocked" and strongly condemns these "abhorrent and obnoxious remarks" by Trump, which "if proven would be entirely unacceptable because they reflect a totally erroneous and racist view of the Haitian community."

The statement also stressed that Haiti has a long history of friendship with the United States.

"The Haitian government calls for the respect and dignity of all people" and the preservation of its relationship with the United States, which values solidarity, altruism and the "respect of differences" for people all over the world.

Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said, "SHAME ON TRUMP! "The world is witnessing a new low today" and called Trump's remarks "totally unacceptable!"

"It shows a lack of respect and ignorance never seen before in the recent history of the US by any President," Lamothe tweeted.

SHAME ON TRUMP! The world is witnessing a new low today with this #ShitholeNations remark! totally unacceptable! uncalled for moreover it shows a lack a respect and IGNORANCE never seen before in the recent history of the US by any President! Enough is enough!! — Laurent Lamothe (@LaurentLamothe) January 12, 2018

With the US ambassadorship in Haiti vacant, Robin Diallo, the charge d'affaires at the embassy, was to meet Friday with Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, a senior State Department official told CNN.

Haiti's US envoy, Paul Altidor, condemned what he called Trump's "misguided" remarks in an interview with NPR, saying he was "surprised and disappointed" and hoped there might be an apology for his country.

The Department of Homeland Security on Monday announced it would also The Trump administration announced late last year it would end the TPS designation for Haiti , a move that could affect tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants.The Department of Homeland Security on Monday announced it would also end protections for more than 200,000 Salvadorans

Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez responded by tweeting about his countrymen's contributions to the United States, saying "a good part of those who helped rebuild New Orleans after Katrina were Salvadoran. I feel proud to be Salvadoran."

Meanwhile, American diplomats and the US Embassy in San Salvador sought to assure Salvadorans of their respect for the country.

Jean Manes, US ambassador to El Salvador, tweeted in Spanish: "I have had the privilege to travel around this beautiful country and meet thousands of Salvadorans. It is an honor to live and work here. We remain 100% committed."

The official account for the US Embassy in San Salvador also tweeted in Spanish: "The United States is proud to be a partner of El Salvador and we remain firm in our friendship that dates back various decades."

Nepal, which became a TPS nation after a major earthquake in 2015, said authorities were discussing their response.

Nepalese Foreign Minister Bharat Raj Paudyal told CNN that "we are aware of President Trump's comments, and our ministry is discussing the matter."

A senior official from Somalia, also on the US list of TPS nations, told CNN that Trump's comments were unworthy of a response.

"It sounds like fake news to me," Somali Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman said by phone from Mogadishu. "If it's real, it doesn't need a response. Those comments do not deserve a response."

On Twitter , former Mexican President Vicente Fox, a longtime Trump critic, said the US leader's mouth "is the foulest shithole in the world."

"With what authority do you proclaim who's welcome in America and who's not. America's greatness is built on diversity, or have you forgotten your immigrant background, Donald?" he asked.

.@realDonaldTrump, your mouth is the foulest shithole in the world. With what authority do you proclaim who's welcome in America and who's not. America's greatness is built on diversity, or have you forgotten your immigrant background, Donald? — Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) January 11, 2018

Former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who's now president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, said the Trump administration is "leading a race to the bottom on refugees and immigrants that is a betrayal of America's future as well as of its history."

Trump Administration leading a race to the bottom on refugees and immigrants that is a betrayal of America's future as well as of its history. These are PEOPLE. https://t.co/OPf7LgLYRg — David Miliband (@DMiliband) January 12, 2018

There was also fierce reaction from people on the African continent to Trump's remarks.

The government of Botswana said it had summoned the US ambassador to the southern African nation to "express its displeasure" over Trump's reported comments, which it views as "highly irresponsibly, reprehensible and racist."

The government said it had also asked the United States to "clarify if Botswana is regarded as a 'shithole' country."

"I am shocked by the words of President Trump on Haiti and Africa," Senegalese President Macky Sall said in an official tweet.

"I reject them and condemn vigorously. Africa and the black race deserve the respect and consideration of all."

African Union spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo said Trump's reported comments were alarming and surprising, particularly "given that so many Africans arrived in the US as slaves."

"It is, frankly, upsetting," she said. "Our relationship with the United States goes beyond the statement of one man, however, though he is the highest office bearer of that land."

In Kenya, Saum Ramadhan, a 23-year-old engineering student at the University of Nairobi, told CNN she found Trump's comments "very offensive, because I think most countries in Africa are pretty stable and we are doing good."

She added: "There might be some struggles, but I think we are doing good. I don't think it's fair to classify all Africa as shitty. That is absolutely wrong."

Duncan Owor, a medical student from Central Kenya, said it was "not the right thing for him to do," given his status.

"He is the President of the United States of America. We expect more of him. We expect him to be an example. We are growing democracies. We don't expect such remarks," Owor said.

Kenyan activist and politician Boniface Mwangi said that "how America elected a narcissist, racist, white supremacist to be their president defies logic."

"Africa sends love and light to America," he added.

President @realDonaldTrump has called Africa a shithole. How America elected a narcissist, racist, white supremacist to be their president defies logic. Africa sends love and light to America. #ShitholeTrump pic.twitter.com/AuZDUy1pwf — Boniface Mwangi (@bonifacemwangi) January 12, 2018

Cartoonist Victor Ndula tweeted an image of a "shithole" map of Africa he produced for Kenya's The Star newspaper.

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi remarked on Twitter, "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."

South Africa's best-known morning-news anchor, Leanne Manas, tweeted, "Good morning from the greatest most beautiful 'shithole country' in the world!!!"

CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that Lauren Lamothe is the former Prime Minister of Haiti.</s>JOHANNESBURG/LUSAKA - African politicians labeled US President Donald Trump a racist on Friday after he was reported to have described some immigrants from Africa and Haiti as coming from "sh*thole" countries.



Sources told Reuters on Thursday that Trump had questioned why the United States would want immigrants from "sh*thole countries" like Haiti and some African countries during a briefing on draft immigration legislation.





Trump denied on Friday using such derogatory language, but he had already been widely condemned in many African countries and by international rights organizations."Ours is not a sh*thole country and neither is Haiti or any other country in distress," Jessie Duarte, the deputy secretary general of South Africa's ruling African National Congress told reporters at a news conference in East London."We would not deign to make comments as derogatory as that about any country that has any kind of socio-economic or other difficulties," Duarte said, adding that much like their African counterparts millions of US citizens were affected by problems such as unemployment.Botswana's foreign ministry summoned the US ambassador in protest and called the comments "highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist."It said in a statement that it had asked the US government, through its ambassador, to "clarify" if the derogatory remark also applied to Botswana given that there were Botswana nationals living in the United States and others who wished to go there.UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva that Trump's comments were "shocking and shameful."Since taking office a year ago, Trump has pursued controversial policies aimed at curbing illegal immigration into the United States as part of a hard-line "America First" agenda.Trump said on Twitter on Friday that he merely used "tough" language when discussing a new immigration bill with a group of US senators.He said the bill was a step backwards because it would force the United States "to take large numbers of people from high crime countries which are doing badly."The Trump administration has spoken little about how it wants to engage with African countries, focusing its foreign policy instead on issues like North Korea and Islamic State.In November it ended Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from Haiti and Nicaragua, giving 59,000 Haitian immigrants until July 2019 to return home or legalize their presence in the United States.On the streets of Lusaka, capital of the southern African country of Zambia, Trump's reported remark reinforced long-held views about the US leader."Trump has always been a racist, only a racist can use such foul language," said Nancy Mulenga, a student at the University of Zambia. Robert Chiponda, a communications consultant in Lusaka, said he never took Trump seriously.Others used humor to ridicule the offensive comments."As someone from South Shithole, Trevor is deeply offended by the president's remarks," US television program The Daily Show wrote on Twitter, referring to its South Africa-born host Trevor Noah.</s>The government of Botswana is condemning remarks allegedly made by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he questioned why the U.S. would accept immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa.

READ MORE: Trump says some immigrants are from ‘shithole’ countries, rejects immigration deal: reports

In a press release, Botswana’s Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation said that it had summoned the U.S. Ambassador so that the government could express its displeasure.

“The Botswana Government has also enquired from the US Government through the Ambassador, to clarify if Botswana is regarded as a ‘shithole’ country,” reads the release. Botswana regards the remarks as “highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist.”

According to reports from Reuters, the Washington Post and other news outlets, Trump was in a meeting with congressional leaders on Thursday discussing a deal that would have restored protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and some African countries.

“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump asked senators.

“Why do we need more Haitians?” Trump reportedly said. “Take them out.”

Trump denied on Friday using such derogatory language, saying that his language was “tough” but that he didn’t use that particular word.

Other officials from African governments have also condemned Trump’s remarks.

The African Union continental body told the Associated Press that it was “frankly alarmed” by Trump’s comments.

“Ours is not a shithole country and neither is Haiti or any other country in distress,” Jessie Duarte, the deputy secretary general of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress told reporters at a news conference in East London.

“We would not deign to make comments as derogatory as that about any country that has any kind of socio-economic or other difficulties,” Duarte said, adding that much like their African counterparts millions of U.S. citizens were affected by problems such as unemployment.

-With files from Adam Frisk, Reuters and the Associated Press</s>
• Botswana issued a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump's reported comments about Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries being "shithole countries."
• Its government summoned the US ambassador, seeking to clarify whether the US regards Botswana as a "shithole" country.
• Many supporters and critics swiftly condemned the president's comments, while some of his biggest supporters defended him.



 The government of Botswana issued a blistering statement Friday in response to President Donald Trump's reported remarks about "shithole countries."

Botswana's Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation (MIAC) called on the US Ambassador to Botswana "to express its displeasure at the alleged utterances made by the President of the US..."

MIAC also asked the ambassador to clarify if the US regards Botswana as a "shithole" country, adding that Trump's comments were "highly irresponsible, reprehensible, and racist."

During a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on immigration Thursday, Trump criticized protections the US gives to immigrants from various underdeveloped countries, including Haiti, El Salvador, and some African countries.

"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump said, according to media accounts and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.

Trump has railed against the diversity visa lottery program and special temporary status protections that bring in at least 50,000 immigrants from around the world and allow them to reside in the US legally. His reported remarks took place in the context of a debate over the merits of those programs.

Botswana wasn't the only country to lash out against the president's comments. Paul Altidor, Haiti's Ambassador to the US, told an NBC News contributor that he and the Haitian government "vehemently condemn" Trump's statement.

"Either the president has been misinformed or he is miseducated," Altidor said, adding that Haiti's government also formally summoned a US official to explain the comments.

Trump's statement provoked a visceral response as observers around the world condemned it. The UN's Human Rights body said "there is no other word one can use but 'racist'" to describe it.

Some Trump supporters backed the president by arguing in defense of the spirit of what he was trying to say — that Americans do not benefit from taking in immigrants from third-world countries.

On Friday, Trump took to Twitter to defend using "tough" language, but said he "never said anything derogatory" about Haitians and suggested he should record future meetings with lawmakers.</s>Two days after President Donald Trump described African nations, along with Haiti and El Salvador, as “shithole countries” whose inhabitants were not desirable as immigrants to the United States, the president of Ghana called the language used by the American leader “extremely unfortunate” and said that his nation was not a “shithole country.”

Nana Akufo-Addo, who assumed the presidency last January, made the comments on his Twitter account on Saturday.

“We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful,” Afuko-Addo’s tweet also said.

In his own tweet posted on Friday, Trump had appeared to deny using the term “shithole” during a private White House meeting Thursday. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the lone Democrat present in the Oval Office at the time, said Trump’s denial was false and the president had said things that were “hate-filled, vile and racist.”

Akufo-Addo is at least the first head of state or government in an insulted country to publicly respond to Trump. Macky Sall, president of Senegal, tweeted on Friday that he was “shocked” by Trump’s words, adding that “Africa and the black race deserve the respect and consideration of all.”

The U.S. government has faced a sustained diplomatic backlash over the past few days due to the comments, as well as widespread criticism from civil society. The government of Botswana issued a statement Friday, condemning the remarks, calling them “irresponsible, reprehensible and racist,” and urging other nations to take a stand against Trump’s remarks.

A group of African ambassadors at the United Nations also issued a statement Friday that condemned the “outrageous, racist and xenophobic” remarks by the president.

Samantha Power, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on Twitter that she had “never seen a statement like this by African countries directed at the United Nations.”

Akufo-Addo’s predecessor, John Dramani Mahama, also criticized Trump’s comments in a tweet Saturday. In his message, Mahama referred to speech made by Trump to African leaders at the United Nations in September wherein in which he had praised their nations — but also mistakenly referred to a nonexistent country called “Nambia.” Mahama’s tweet used an altered image of an Oval Office meeting featuring Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to mock that mistake.

In an earlier tweet, Mahama had said that Trump’s comments showed he was “nothing but a racist.”

Ghana, located in West Africa, is one of the region’s most politically stable countries and it has long enjoyed friendly relations with the United States — according to a Pew poll from 2015, 89 percent of the country said they had a favorable view of America, though that number dropped to 59 percent when the same poll was conducted in 2017.

Robert Jackson, the current U.S. ambassador to Ghana, told Ghanaian reporters last year the election of Trump would not change the relationship between the United States and African nations. “Our African policies have changed very little of last several decades. I expect that our assistance programmes would continue pretty much as they are,” Jackson told Joy News.</s>The government of Botswana on Friday condemned President Trump for referring to unnamed African nations as "shithole" countries, and summoned the U.S. ambassador to ask whether Botswana, too, is a "shithole."

"The government of Botswana, today summoned the U.S. ambassador to Botswana to express its displeasure at the alleged utterances made by the President of the U.S., Donald Trump, when he referred to African countries and others as "shithole countries" during a meeting," a government press release stated.

"The Botswana government has also enquired from the U.S. government through the ambassador, to clarify if Botswana is regarded as a "shithole" country given that there are Botswana nationals residing in the U.S., and also that some of Batswana may wish to visit the U.S.," the statement added.

Government officials said they are "wondering why" Trump would pick that specific word when talking about a country that has been diplomatic with the U.S.

A congressional delegation is scheduled to tour Botswana at the end of January. Botswana officials said in light of the upcoming travel, it wants America to know Trump's comments are "highly irresponsible, reprehensible, and racist."</s>Botswana on Friday summoned the U.S. ambassador to "express its displeasure" over U.S. President Donald Trump's "irresponsible, reprehensible and racist" reference to African nations as "shithole countries".

In a statement, our northern neighbour used a polite, diplomatic tone to highlight just how egregious Trump's remark was, and just how unsuited the former reality-TV performer is for any role that requires international diplomacy.

"The Botswana government has also enquired from the U.S. government through the ambassador, to clarify if Botswana is regarded as a 'sh**hole' country, given that there are Botswana nationals residing in the U.S., and also that some of Batswana may wish to visit the US," the statement from Botswana's ministry of international affairs and cooperation said.

"The government of Botswana is wondering why President Trump must use this descriptor and derogatory word when talking about countries with [which] the U.S. has had cordial and mutually beneficial bilateral relations for so many years."

The statement reminded Trump that Botswana had accepted U.S. citizens within her borders over the years and continued to host U.S. guests and senior government officials, including a congressional delegation set to visit the country at the end of this month.

"That is why we view the utterances by the current [U.S.] president as highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist."

Botswana called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and "all other progressive nations across the world" to strongly condemn Trump's remarks.

Trump –– previously a frequently bankrupt real-estate developer and entrepreneur who has been dogged by fraud and sexual assault allegations –– made the remark on Thursday, after two U.S. legislators briefed him on a bipartisan immigration bill, which Trump rejected.

He asked why the U.S. had to accept immigrants from "shithole countries" like Haiti and "Africa", which he doesn't seem to realise is a continent.

He would prefer "Norwegian" immigrants –– although why people who enjoy free public healthcare, free education and one of the highest standards of living in the world would want to move to the U.S., he didn't explain.</s>GABORONE: Botswana's government on Friday summoned the US ambassador to complain about remarks reportedly made by President Donald Trump describing African nations as "shithole countries".

The alleged comments, first reported by The Washington Post, were apparently made during a meeting at the White House about immigration reform on Thursday. They quickly sparked anger among Democrats and Republicans and revived questions about Trump's tendency to make racially charged remarks.

"The Government of Botswana, today summoned the US Ambassador to Botswana to express its displeasure at the alleged utterances made by the President of the US," the country's foreign ministry said in a statement posted on Twitter.

The statement added that Gaborone had sought clarification from the US ambassador on whether "Botswana is regarded as a 'shithole' country given that there are Botswana nationals residing in the US".

"We view the utterances by the current American President as highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist," it added.
Nepalese authorities state that they are "discussing their response" to Trump's recent comment which referred to their country (among others) as a "shithole". Botswana summoned their U.S. ambassador, asking for clarification and expressed their concerns.