U.S. Congressman Al Green (D-Texas 9th District) promised again Friday that he’ll try to get President Donald Trump impeached. This time it’s over the “shithole countries” remark.
Multiple outlets reported Thursday afternoon that during a meeting with lawmakers, the president made a racist statement about stopping immigration from “shithole countries.”
From NBC:
“Why do we need more Haitians?” Trump reportedly said, according to The Washington Post. “Take them out.” Sources for that quote were described as “people familiar with the meeting.” The president also reportedly included El Salvador in disrespectful remarks.
Trump denied saying anything “derogatory,” but Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) publicly insisted that he did.
Durbin, who attended the meeting, called the president’s comments “hate-filed, vile and racist,” according to the Post. Trump uttered the words “repeatedly,” he said.
Nonetheless, it will take some doing for Green to convince the House to impeach Trump on this matter. Republicans command a 239 – 193 majority in the chamber, and the congressman can’t even rely on total support from his own party: Minority leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California 12th District) has previously gone on the record opposing impeachment efforts. Assuming the House votes for this by a majority vote, the challenge is even stiffer in the U.S. Senate. There, full-on removal of the president requires a supermajority. The GOP commands a 51 – 49 advantage in the chamber.
For now, the perception remains that this “shithole” statement won’t hurt Trump politically, let alone lose him his job.
Green previously called for Trump’s impeachment over the president’s “son of a bitch” speech against NFL players who knelt during the national anthem.
[Screengrab via C-SPAN]