Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga., defended President Trump Friday after reports that he referred to Haiti and various African nations as "shithole countries" during a meeting at the White House.

In a statement, the pair of GOP immigration hawks said they "do not recall" the president making those remarks and hit Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., for not "negotiating in good faith" by making what they call an "accusation."

“President Trump brought everyone to the table this week and listened to both sides. But regrettably, it seems that not everyone is committed to negotiating in good faith," Cotton and Perdue said.

"In regards to Senator Durbin’s accusation, we do not recall the President saying these comments specifically but what he did call out was the imbalance in our current immigration system, which does not protect American workers and our national interest," they said. "We, along with the President, are committed to solving an issue many in Congress have failed to deliver on for decades.”

The president's remarks were reported on Thursday and were denounced by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, the first congresswoman of Haitian descent.