Illinois Senator Dick Durbin just doubled down in his war of words with the President over allegations that the president referred to Haiti and countries in Africa as “shitholes.”
Durbin called on the White House to “release the tapes,” if there are any. Durbin explained that he was unable to record the bipartisan meeting to discuss immigration because all visitors are required to surrender their cell phones before entering the oval office. He is unsure if the White House had set up its own recording device.
“If there was,” he said, “I want to just call on the White House right now, release whatever you have. If they don’t have it, so be it.”
Durbin and Trump have been going back and forth on Twitter and in the media with this “he said/he said” argument over the derogatory comment.
The latest came from the Trump camp today, when he issued yet another low blow towards Democratic Durbin.
Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals can’t get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018
This comes after multiple sources reported Trump made the “shithole comment” heard round the world last week. Trump went on the defensive on Friday. He also preempted this argument from Durbin, by lamenting that meetings should be recorded in the future.
Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said “take them out.” Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings – unfortunately, no trust!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018
While Durbin has been firm in his condemnation of the “shithole” comment, two Republican senators with knowledge of the meeting have said they “don’t recall” the President using that term.
David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas seem to remember things a little bit differently. But with this Presidency, usually where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The details of this “fire” are a little too specific to be manufactured. And the shameful comment tracks with Trump’s documented history of racism.
Looks like he’s going to have a hard time getting this one to die because Senator “Dicky Durbin” won’t back down. The country needs to know the full extend of its leader’s beliefs so it can take him to task for befouling the policymaking process with them.
