Former President Obama on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday praised the civil rights leader as a "permanent inspiration" for others "to keep pushing towards justice."

"He started small, rallying others who believed their efforts mattered, pressing on through challenges and doubts to change our world for the better," Obama tweeted in part on Monday.

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The holiday comes shortly after Obama's successor, 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, faced extreme backlash last week for reportedly describing several nations as "shithole countries."

“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump reportedly said during an Oval Office meeting on immigration reform with lawmakers, referring to immigrants from African countries, Haiti and El Salvador.

He then allegedly proposed bringing in more immigrants from countries like Norway, a predominantly white country.

The White House did not initially deny the remarks, which were confirmed by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), but Trump later took to Twitter to say he "never" made such comments.

On Monday, he doubled down on his denial while blaming Durbin for misrepresenting what he had said.

Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals can’t get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018

Critics of the president say his alleged "shithole" remarks prove that he harbors racist views.