This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42664173

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Donald Trump's 'racist slur' provokes outrage Donald Trump's 'racist slur' provokes outrage
(35 minutes later)
US President Donald Trump has sparked outrage after he was reported to have used crude language to describe foreign countries in an Oval Office meeting. US President Donald Trump has sparked outrage by reportedly using crude language to describe foreign countries in an Oval Office meeting.
Mr Trump said he did not say "anything derogatory" about Haitians and appeared to deny calling any countries "shitholes", as was reported, generating a worldwide backlash. Mr Trump insists he did not insult Haitians and appeared to deny calling any nations "shitholes", as was reported, prompting a global outcry.
However, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said Mr Trump used "racist" language. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said Mr Trump called African countries "shitholes" and used "racist" language.
The president did call some African nations "shitholes", he said. But two Republicans present said they could not remember those comments.
Amid widespread coverage of his remarks at a private meeting with lawmakers to discuss immigration on Thursday, Mr Trump on Friday tweeted that his language at the meeting had been "tough". But he added that the words attributed to him were "not the language used". Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue, of Arkansas and Georgia, said they heard the president "call out" what they described as "the imbalance in our current immigration system".
Amid widespread coverage of his remarks at the private meeting with lawmakers to discuss immigration legislation on Thursday, Mr Trump on Friday tweeted that his language at the meeting had been "tough". But he added that the words attributed to him were "not the language used".
Many US media outlets reported the comments on Thursday, quoting witnesses or people briefed on the meeting. The White House did not deny them.Many US media outlets reported the comments on Thursday, quoting witnesses or people briefed on the meeting. The White House did not deny them.
"I cannot believe that in the history of the White House, in that Oval Office, any president has ever spoken the words that I personally heard our president speak yesterday," Mr Durbin told reporters on Friday."I cannot believe that in the history of the White House, in that Oval Office, any president has ever spoken the words that I personally heard our president speak yesterday," Mr Durbin told reporters on Friday.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, a top Republican, said the comments had been "unfortunate" and "unhelpful. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a top Republican, said the reported comments were "unfortunate" and "unhelpful.
Mr Trump ignored press questions about the issue as he signed a proclamation declaring a holiday in honour of civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr - as presidents do every year.Mr Trump ignored press questions about the issue as he signed a proclamation declaring a holiday in honour of civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr - as presidents do every year.
He said Americans were celebrating that "self-evident truth" that "no matter what the colour of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God".He said Americans were celebrating that "self-evident truth" that "no matter what the colour of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God".
What was the context for the comments?What was the context for the comments?
Mr Trump's reported remarks came as lawmakers visited him on Thursday to discuss a bipartisan proposal that would impose new restrictions on immigration but protect the so-called "Dreamers" - hundreds of thousands immigrants brought to the US illegally as children - from deportation.Mr Trump's reported remarks came as lawmakers visited him on Thursday to discuss a bipartisan proposal that would impose new restrictions on immigration but protect the so-called "Dreamers" - hundreds of thousands immigrants brought to the US illegally as children - from deportation.
Mr Trump was said to have told them that instead of granting temporary residency to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway.Mr Trump was said to have told them that instead of granting temporary residency to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway.
"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" the Washington Post quoted him as saying, in remarks first reported to be about Haiti, El Salvador and African nations."Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" the Washington Post quoted him as saying, in remarks first reported to be about Haiti, El Salvador and African nations.
Mr Durbin said that when Mr Trump was told that the largest groups of immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) were from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti, the president responded: "Haitians? Do we need more Haitians?"Mr Durbin said that when Mr Trump was told that the largest groups of immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) were from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti, the president responded: "Haitians? Do we need more Haitians?"
But in another tweet on Friday the president denied that he insulted Haitians.But in another tweet on Friday the president denied that he insulted Haitians.
What was the global reaction?What was the global reaction?
And in the US?And in the US?
More on Trump's first yearMore on Trump's first year
How was the slur reported?How was the slur reported?
The Washington Post broke the story with the word "shithole" in its headline and in the alert that the paper sent out to followers' smartphones.The Washington Post broke the story with the word "shithole" in its headline and in the alert that the paper sent out to followers' smartphones.
On US TV, some broadcasters gave content warnings or avoided saying the word altogether. Fox News used asterisks to obscure the offensive word along the bottom of the screen, but CNN and MSNBC carried it in full.On US TV, some broadcasters gave content warnings or avoided saying the word altogether. Fox News used asterisks to obscure the offensive word along the bottom of the screen, but CNN and MSNBC carried it in full.
Around the world, journalists reporting in other languages faced the question of how to translate what Mr Trump had said.Around the world, journalists reporting in other languages faced the question of how to translate what Mr Trump had said.