Sen. Lindsey Graham said Friday that "I said my piece directly" to President Donald Trump after he reportedly made derogatory comments about Haiti and Africa — though the South Carolina Republican did not say whether the president had made the "s**thole countries" remark.
"Following comments by the president, I said my piece directly to him yesterday," Graham said in a statement. "The president and all those attending the meeting know what I said and how I feel.
"I've always believed that America is an idea, not defined by its people but by its ideals," the third-term senator said.
During the meeting on immigration, Graham and Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin were among the bipartisan group of senators at the White House with Trump.
The Washington Post, citing two unnamed sources briefed on the session, reported that the president grew frustrated as lawmakers floated the idea of restoring protections for immigrants from Africa, El Salvador, and Haiti.
"Why are we having all these people from s**thole countries come here?" Trump said, according to the Post, referring to the nations.
The president also singled out Haiti, telling lawmakers that immigrants from there should be left out of any deal to protect those affected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
"Why do we need more Haitians?" Trump said, the Post reported. "Take them out."
On Friday, President Trump denied making the comments — only saying on Twitter that "the language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used."
He also rejected the DACA framework proposed by legislators.
In his statement, Graham did not say whether President Trump made the derogatory remarks, but he confirmed them to his fellow Palmetto State Republican, Sen. Tim Scott.
Scott, who was elected in 2012, is the only African-American Republican in the Senate.
Durbin also ripped Trump's comments Friday, saying that he "repeatedly" used "hate-filled, vile and racist" language about immigrants from those countries.
But two other Republicans in the meeting, Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia, said in statement Friday that "we do not recall the president saying these comments specifically."
In addition, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin on Friday called Trump's comments "very unfortunate and unhelpful."
In his statement, Graham also touted American ideals and the nation's diversity.
"The American ideal is embraced by people all over the globe," Graham said Friday. "It was best said a long time ago, 'E Pluribus Unum — Out of Many, One.'
"Diversity has always been our strength, not our weakness," he added. "In reforming immigration, we cannot lose these American ideals.
"The American people will ultimately judge us on the outcome we achieve, not the process which led to it."
Graham also praised Durbin for his statement — and he has "enjoyed working with him and many others on this important issue.
"I believe it is vitally important to come to a bipartisan solution to the immigration and border challenges we face today," the senator said.
"I am committed to working with Republicans and Democrats to find common ground so we can move forward."
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