Trump Confirms 'Shithole' Remark And Intensifies Xenophobic Rhetoric

President Donald Trump on Tuesday night acknowledged that he referred to certain nations — including several with predominantly Black populations — as 'shithole countries' during a 2018 meeting, and this week he amplified that language with new, more explicit attacks.

What He Said

Speaking about immigration policy, Trump said he wanted fewer immigrants from places like Somalia and Haiti and more from countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark. He repeated and expanded on the earlier reported language, described Somalia as "filthy, dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime," mocked Rep. Ilhan Omar’s headscarf as a 'little turban,' and encouraged a crowd to chant 'send her back' to Somalia. He also said, 'She should get the hell out. Throw her the hell out.'

Denials, Admission and the Political Fallout

When the 'shithole' comment was first reported in 2018, Trump and some Republican allies disputed the reports. At the time, GOP senators who were said to have attended the closed-door meeting said they did not recall him using that specific word. Trump’s acknowledgement this week effectively undercuts those earlier denials and raises questions about the credibility of allies who defended him publicly.

Normalization of Rhetoric

What stands out is less the original comment than how it has been treated over time. Remarks that once provoked bipartisan rebukes are now met with far less sustained pushback within the GOP. Figures who criticized similar language in the past, including some Republicans who publicly expressed disappointment in 2018 and 2019, have been quieter this week. Vice President J.D. Vance, who once criticized Trump’s rhetoric on immigrants, appeared to approve of the president’s latest attacks, illustrating a broader shift.

Broader Implications

Observers say the change in tone signals what a second Trump term might look like: a more overtly xenophobic posture normalized within the party and deployed more freely by the president. That shift has consequences for immigration policy debates and for how Republican leaders respond to inflammatory rhetoric aimed at immigrants, people of color, and elected officials.

Bottom Line: Trump’s admission of the earlier phrase and his escalating attacks this week underline how contentious rhetoric that once triggered public rebukes has become increasingly normalized within parts of the GOP.