Democrats Propose Censure Of Trump's 'Bigoted Fearmongering'

WASHINGTON, DC — Calling President Trump's remarks racist and bigoted, congressional Democrats proposed to censure the commander in chief after he reportedly called African nations "s---holes" and denigrated immigrants from other nations at a meeting with lawmakers last week.

“We were deeply disturbed and offended by President Trump’s remarks regarding Haiti and African countries," said Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond and New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler in a statement. "The countries he called ‘[s---holes]’ produce immigrants that are remarkable and make significant contributions to our country. A high percentage of those immigrants have college degrees and when they get here they create businesses and jobs."

Richmond is the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Nadler is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. They delivered the statement at a press conference Thursday.

The committees listed the following remarks by Trump as the target of censure:

• Questioning whether Haitians needed to be included in the compromise. “Haitians, why do we need more Haitians? Take them out,” President Trump said.
• Referring to African countries as “s---holes” or “s---houses;” and
• Suggesting that instead of accepting immigrants from predominately black Haiti and African countries, the United States should instead allow more immigration from predominately white countries like Norway.

Trump reportedly made the derogatory comments during a meeting last week to discuss a bipartisan deal on immigration policy, which the president rejected. Illinois's Sen. Dick Durbin, the only Democrat in the meeting, confirmed anonymously sourced news reports about Trump's use of the vulgarity. While some Republicans in the meeting have denied that Trump used the word "s---hole," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina did not dispute Durbin's claims and said that he told Trump what he disapproved of the remarks in the meeting. The White House did initially did not deny Trump's use of the word.

"This censure resolution is important because America is a beacon of hope. We have to show the world that this president does not represent the real feelings of most of the American people which is part of the reason why he lost the popular vote," Richmond and Nadler said. "The President’s bigoted fearmongering is not acceptable and his remarks completely warrant total condemnation and censure from Congress. American immigration policy cannot and should not be guided in any way, shape or form by racism."

The White House did not respond to request for comment on the censure resolution.

The censure is unlikely to gain traction in the House of Representatives. Republicans, who are in control of the chamber, have been reluctant to harshly criticize the president's behavior, rhetoric or tone.

Richmond and Nadler conclude: “We will be asking Republican Leadership to bring our resolution of censure up for swift consideration and approval. Congress must speak with one voice in condemning these offensive and anti-American remarks. There is no excuse for it.”

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