Caricom, African Union Slams Trump's 'Racist and Reprehensible' Anti-Immigrant Remarks

The Caribbean Community, or Caricom, has slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for using "repulsive language" to describe Haiti and African countries.

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"Caricom condemns in the strongest terms the unenlightened views reportedly expressed," the 15-nation bloc's Guyana-based headquarters said in a statement.

"(Caricom) is deeply disturbed by reports about the use of derogatory and repulsive language by the President of the United States in respect of our member state, Haiti, and other developing countries."

Trump reportedly referred to immigrants from countries like El Salvador and Haiti as people from "shithole countries" during a meeting with the lawmakers in White House on Thursday.

Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who was present at the White House meeting, told the AFP that Trump first raised the question, "Do we need more Haitians?"

"Shithole was the exact word used not once, not twice, but repeatedly," Durbin said, adding that the word was specifically used in the context of African countries, according to The Guardian.

Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren said Trump's words had "struck at the dignity of Salvadorans."

"El Salvador formally protests and energetically rejects this kind of comment," he wrote on Twitter.

The 55-nation African Union also condemned Trump's remarks, saying they were "clearly racist."

"The African Union Mission wishes to express its infuriation, disappointment and outrage over the unfortunate comment made by Mr. Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, whose remarks dishonor the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity," the African Union said in a statement.

Caricom nations also comprise of descendants of African slaves, along with ancestors of many others who were indentured laborers from India.

Caricom also expressed its full support for the Haitian government.

"It should be recalled that Haiti is the second democracy in the Western hemisphere after the United States and that Haitians continue to contribute significantly in many spheres to the global community and particularly to the United States of America," added the bloc, which includes former British, Dutch and French colonies.