House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is the latest Democrat to label Trump a racist. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo Hoyer: Trump is a ‘racist’

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said President Donald Trump’s controversial comments about certain “shithole” countries make clear that he is a “racist.”

“If you use racist rhetoric, if you pursue policies based on a racial premise, I consider that to be a definition of a racist,” Hoyer told reporters Tuesday. “I think the president articulates racist language and pursues policies based upon race.”


Hoyer is the latest Democrat to label Trump a racist following comments the president reportedly made asking why the U.S. let in so many immigrants from Haiti and African nations and not more from countries like Norway.

POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trump made the remark last week during a White House meeting on a bipartisan Senate immigration deal. Trump rejected the deal, and negotiators remain at odds over whether they will be able to reach an agreement to protect so-called Dreamers before government funding runs out Friday, upping the chances for a potential government shutdown.

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights icon, called Trump a racist over the weekend, and the Congressional Black Caucus is preparing a censure motion in response to the president’s remarks.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who was in the meeting when Trump made the remarks, has since confirmed the comments and dismissed pushback from Republicans who claimed the president said “shithouse” rather than “shithole.”

Trump has also denied using the language and told reporters Sunday, “I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed.”

Durbin told reporters on Tuesday: "I stand by every word I said about what was said and what happened at that meeting."

During his sit-down with reporters, Hoyer also highlighted reports of previous instances of racially motivated behavior by the president. Hoyer specifically cited the example of Trump being sued by the Justice Department in the 1970s for allegedly refusing to rent apartments to African-Americans.

“One can say ‘I’m not a racist,’ but that is a racist act,” Hoyer said.