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Trump is hosting an African leader at the White House for the first time since his 's---hole' comment

Kieran Corcoran   

Trump is hosting an African leader at the White House for the first time since his 's---hole' comment

TRUMP BUHARI WIDE

Getty Images/Reuters

Donald Trump and Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Trump is due to host his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, at the White House on Monday.
  • It is his first time hosting an African leader since widespread reports in January he had referred to places in Africa as "s---hole countries".
  • Nigeria summoned the US ambassador over the comments, which it called "deeply hurtful, offensive and unacceptable."
  • Trump is lunching with Buhari and hosting a press conference, where they will likely discuss trade and counter-extremism.


President Donald Trump is hosting an African leader for meetings at the White House for the first time since he reportedly condemned the continent as a constellation of "s---hole countries" in comments that caused widespread outrage.

Trump is meeting Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria, in a series of events in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

The meeting comes after Trump reportedly asked a meeting why the US immigration system was "having all these people from s---hole countries coming here", referring to Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified countries in Africa.

The comment, which Trump denied, but numerous news outlets and people present confirmed, sparked outrage in the US and beyond.

Buhari's government issued a summons to the US ambassador to Nigeria after reports emerged.

Muhammadu Buhari Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari inspects the guard of honour during the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja

Reuters

Muhammadu Buhari inspects soldiers at a remembrance event in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in January 2018.

According to the Reuters, Nigerian foreign minister Geoffrey Onyeama "sought clarification on the veracity or otherwise of the substance of the remarks, stressing that if they were true, they were deeply hurtful, offensive and unacceptable."

The African Union, of which Nigeria is a member, also condemned the remarks and demanded an apology. Unlike Nigeria's government, it appeared certain that Trump had really made the comment.

According to the White House's daily schedule for April 30, Trump and Buhari will spend around two hours together in the White House.

They will meet, have a "working lunch" behind closed doors, then host a joint press conference.

According to the BBC, the leaders will likely focus on what action can be taken against Boko Haram jihadists active in Nigeria, and increased economic cooperation between the countries.

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