Rep. Mark Pocan Mark William PocanClark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race Hillicon Valley: Pentagon reaffirms decision to award JEDI contract to Microsoft | Schiff asks officials for briefing on election security threats Democrats explore new ways to resurrect election security briefings MORE (D-Wis.) on Thursday fired back at a report that President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE questioned why the U.S. accepts immigrants from “shithole” countries by asking “why we allow presidents from sh*thole companies like the Trump Organization."

The real question is why we allow presidents from sh*thole companies like the Trump Organization https://t.co/OHD7rLPHwK — Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) January 11, 2018

The Washington Post reported that Trump made the remark during a meeting with other lawmakers to discuss protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries.

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Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) were reportedly present at the meeting and were surprised by the comments, according to the Post.

Trump reportedly suggested in the meeting that the U.S. should instead seek to bring in more immigrants from countries like Norway, whose prime minister he met with Wednesday.

The White House defended Trump’s remarks in a statement and did not deny them.

“Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people,” White House spokesperson Raj Shah said in a statement.

“President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation,” the spokesman added.