Trump says he ‘deeply respects’ African people in letter to leaders
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In a letter to African regional leaders, President Donald Trump has said he “deeply respects” the people of Africa and that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an “extended visit” to the continent in March.
The letter — a copy of which was obtained by NBC News — is dated Thursday and was sent ahead of the African Union summit this weekend in Ethiopia.
The correspondence comes after Trump caused widespread outrage by reportedly referring to African nations as “shithole countries” in a bipartisan immigration meeting earlier this month.
Trump has denied using this language but Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin told reporters the president repeatedly used the slur to refer to African nations at the meeting they both attended on Jan. 11.
In a letter to African regional leaders, President Donald Trump has said he “deeply respects” the people of Africa and that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an “extended visit” to the continent in March.
The letter — a copy of which was obtained by NBC News — is dated Thursday and was sent ahead of the African Union summit this weekend in Ethiopia.
The correspondence comes after Trump caused widespread outrage by reportedly referring to African nations as “shithole countries” in a bipartisan immigration meeting earlier this month.
Trump has denied using this language but Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin told reporters the president repeatedly used the slur to refer to African nations at the meeting they both attended on Jan. 11.
The reports shocked African leaders who condemned Trump’s vulgar remarks, with Ghana’s president saying he would “not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful.”
President Nana Akufo-Addo added that Ghana was “certainly not a “shithole country,” while Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, said in a statement that “Africa and the black race merit the respect and consideration of all.”
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