Trump Confirms 'Shithole Countries' Remark, Targets Somali Immigrants
President Trump confirmed using the derogatory phrase 'shithole countries' during a Pennsylvania speech, denigrating immigrants. He also made disparaging remarks targeting Somali immigrants, including Representative Ilhan Omar.
Overview
President Trump confirmed using the derogatory phrase 'shithole countries' during a speech delivered in Pennsylvania, sparking widespread controversy.
The controversial remarks were made to denigrate immigrants originating from the nations he referred to with the offensive term.
Trump specifically targeted Somali immigrants with disparaging comments, continuing a pattern of controversial rhetoric regarding immigration.
Among those targeted by President Trump's remarks was Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a prominent Somali-American politician.
These statements highlight President Trump's ongoing use of strong language when discussing immigration and specific immigrant communities.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing President Trump's "anti-immigrant rhetoric" and "derogatory insults." They highlight his attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar and his embrace of the "s---hole countries" phrase, contrasting it with past denials. The coverage collectively portrays the speech as a deviation from its stated economic purpose into controversial campaign-style remarks.
Sources (3)
FAQ
President Trump used the term during a 2018 White House meeting to express frustration about immigrants from certain countries, specifically Haiti and African nations, which he described with this derogatory phrase and later confirmed its use at a 2025 campaign-style speech in Pennsylvania.
Initially, after the 2018 incident, President Trump and his team denied using the phrase despite multiple reports; however, in 2025 he openly confirmed and seemed to take pride in having used it.
President Trump specifically targeted Somali immigrants, including Representative Ilhan Omar, making disparaging remarks against this community.
The use of the phrase sparked widespread controversy due to its derogatory nature and reinforced perceptions of President Trump's racist rhetoric toward immigrants and specific communities like those from Haiti, Africa, and Somalia.
These statements highlight an ongoing trend of strong, divisive language on immigration used by President Trump, contributing to national debates on immigration policy and race relations in the United States.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.