(CNN) CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo recalled his own immigrant roots Thursday in responding to President Donald Trump's vulgar comments disparaging immigrants from "shithole" countries, saying he himself remained "profoundly connected" to his roots, as a second-generation American.

"We do come from the hard-hit places," said Cuomo, speaking on CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time." "The shitholes, as our President likes to say."

Cuomo said his own grandparents came from a country -- Italy -- that was once considered a "shithole" by people like the President.

Trump tweeted Friday morning that he did use tough language in his remarks during a conversation about DACA, but not the language that was reported.

Italians as 'other'

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