This week, President Trump again shocked the world by using vulgar language to describe other nations. The remarks were made during a discussion about a potential bipartisan compromise on "dreamers," illegal immigrants brought to the country as children. As these immigrants have no memory of living outside of the United States, and often cannot speak the languages of their original nations, many have called for them to be granted legal status. When reminded that such legal protection would also benefit immigrants from Haiti and some African nations, Trump responded, "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"

The remark provoked outrage and swift condemnation. Some found them merely insensitive, while others felt they were inherently racist. "As an American, I am ashamed of the president," stated Democratic Illinois Representative Luis Gutiérrez. "His comments are disappointing, unbelievable, but not surprising... [we can now] say with 100 percent confidence that the president is a racist who does not share the values enshrined in our Constitution or Declaration of Independence." Rupert Colville, human rights spokesperson for the United Nations, also denounced Trump's comment: "There is no other word one can use but racist. You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as 'shitholes'." The African Union demanded an official apology for Trump's "clearly racist" comments, though no such apology appears to be forthcoming.

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Trump apparently went on to ask why the U.S. was not accepting more immigrants from countries such as Norway, a predominantly Caucasian nation -further bolstering accusations of racism. Trump has also disparaged Haiti and other predominantly black nations in the past, once claiming that all Haitians have AIDS, and that all Nigerians live in huts.

This is only a continuation of a pattern that began with Trump's candidacy. Trump publicly questioned - and apparently still questions - the legitimacy of former President Barack Obama's birth certificate. Trump also infamously called Mexican immigrants criminals and rapists. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has said that the President is only falling "deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of racism and xenophobia."

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Trump expresses his xenophobia with his actions, not only his words. Last week, Trump revoked temporary protected status for more than 200,000 displaced citizens of El Salvador, many of whom have lived in the United States since their home country was struck by a devastating earthquake in 2001. Prior Republican and Democratic administrations worked to extend the Salvadorans' temporary protected status, but they will now have to leave the country by September 9th, 2019. The decision has sparked fear in the U.S. Salvadoran population: since children born in the U.S. will retain their citizenship, it could divide families, and it will place those forced to return to El Salvador in significant economic and physical danger, as El Salvador has one of the highest murder rates in the world. It has also created unease in other immigrant populations living under temporary protected status who fear they may be scrutinized next.

Trump, for his part, has denied that his remarks and his policies are racially charged, stating, "I am not a racist. I'm the least racist person you will ever interview."