Donald Trump has complained about a lack of immigrants from 'nice' countries such as Denmark and Switzerland, according to reports from a Florida fundraiser. The former president's remarks echo his infamous 2018 comment about immigrants from 'shithole countries'.
Speaking to millionaire donors in Palm Beach on Saturday, Trump said: 'These are people coming in from prisons and jails. They're coming in from just unbelievable places and countries, countries that are a disaster.' He questioned why the US could not allow people from 'nice countries' like Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway.
Trump's 2018 comment about 'shithole countries' sparked widespread criticism over racism. Six years later, his latest remarks come as he uses border security as a central campaign issue. He also complained about criticism of his earlier comment, saying: 'And you know, they took that as a very terrible comment, but I felt it was fine.'
According to the New York Times, which cited an unnamed attendee, Trump also claimed that migrants from Latin America 'make the Hells Angels look like extremely nice people' and suggested that migrants from Yemen were coming from a place 'where they're blowing each other up all over the place'.
The fundraiser was held at a home in Palm Beach, which is 93.8% white, while nearby West Palm Beach is nearly a third people of colour. Trump also reportedly claimed that President Joe Biden had 'soiled' the Resolute desk in the Oval Office, interpreted by some as a crude remark about defecation.
