US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed he was "not a racist" after he reportedly described Haiti and African nation-states as "s***hole countries."

"I'm not a racist. I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you," Trump told reporters before attending a dinner with Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Read more: What's behind Trump's big ego?

Trump's reported remark during an immigration meeting with US lawmakers last week prompted criticism from both sides of the congressional aisle, with some Democrats and Republicans denouncing it as racism.

More than 50 African ambassadors to the UN criticized the reported remarks on Saturday, calling for the US president to issue a "retraction and an apology."

'Gross misrepresentation'

Trump has offered only a vague defense of the remark. "The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used," Trump said in a tweet on Friday, apparently referencing the reported remark.

At least one Republican senator has claimed that the story of Trump's controversial remark was a "gross misrepresentation."

Donald Trump on Germany: Top quotes The good, the bad and the ugly US President Donald Trump has offered both candid praise and unabashed criticism of Germany and its policies. From calling German Chancellor Angela Merkel "possibly the greatest world leader" to describing her open-door refugee policy as a "catastrophic mistake," here are his most memorable quotes regarding Germany.

Donald Trump on Germany: Top quotes 'Greatest' "Germany's like sitting back silent, collecting money and making a fortune with probably the greatest leader in the world today, Merkel," Trump said in a 2015 interview with US news magazine Time.

Donald Trump on Germany: Top quotes 'Very bad' "The Germans are bad, very bad ... Look at the millions of cars they sell in the US. Terrible. We'll stop that," Trump said during a NATO leaders summit, according to German news magazine Der Spiegel, which cited sources at the alliance's meeting.

Donald Trump on Germany: Top quotes 'Something in common' "As far as wiretapping, I guess, by - you know - [the Obama] administration, at least we have something in common, perhaps," Trump said in March during a press conference with Merkel. He was referring to his unproven allegations that ex-President Barack Obama tapped his phone. There was widespread anger in Germany in 2013 when it was revealed the US National Security Agency tapped Merkel's phone.

Donald Trump on Germany: Top quotes 'Illegals' "I think she made one very catastrophic mistake and that was taking all of these illegals (sic), you know taking all of the people from wherever they come from," Trump said in a joint interview published by German daily Bild and British newspaper The Times, referring to Merkel's open-door policy for refugees fleeing war and persecution.

Donald Trump on Germany: Top quotes 'Germany owes vast sums of money' "Despite what you have heard from the fake news, I had a great meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, Germany owes vast sums of money to NATO and the United States must be paid more for the powerful, and very expensive, defense it provides to Germany," Trump said in a two-tweet statement after meeting with Merkel for the first time in March 2017.

Donald Trump on Germany: Top quotes 'Turning their backs' "The people of Germany are turning against their leadership as migration is rocking the already tenuous Berlin coalition," Trump tweeted in the midst of a row within the German goverment. He went on to claim that: "Crime in Germany is way up. Big mistake made all over Europe in allowing millions of people in who have so strongly and violently changed their culture!" Author: Lewis Sanders IV



Looming government shutdown

Ahead of the dinner with McCarthy, Trump said he did not have any assurances as to whether Congress would avert a government shutdown.

US lawmakers have until Friday to agree on government funding, with temporary measures set to expire. Some Democrats have threatened to vote against legislation to extend funding unless protections for the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as children are included.

Trump announced last year that he will end the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, if a solution is not found by March.

Read more: Is a US government shutdown looming after Donald Trump's DACA meddling?

Democratic lawmakers "don't want security at the border," said Trump, referring to a campaign promise to build a wall on the border with Mexico and restrict immigration to the country. Trump has been unable to fulfill many of his campaign promises regarding the border since assuming office nearly a year ago.

"You got people pouring in. They don't want to stop drugs, and they want to take money away from our military, which we cannot do," Trump said, referring to the Democrats seeking a deal on DACA.

Watch video 26:00 Share Trump's first year: Beyond all reason? Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2qh0V Trump's first year: Beyond all reason?

ls/cmk (Reuters, AP, AFP)