White House must apologize for US President Donald Trump's degrading comments: Congressman Erik Paulsen

US Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen

Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen has condemned US President Donald Trump over his degrading comments about immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti and certain African countries, calling Trump's words "completely inappropriate."

Using the most condescending and undiplomatic language imaginable, Trump reportedly asked during a White House meeting on Thursday why “people from shithole countries come to” the United States.

“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump said, according to The Washington Post.

Paulsen demanded on Thursday night the White House issue an apology regarding Trump’s racial slur, and censured the president for making "denigrating statement" about other countries.

"It is completely inappropriate for the President to refer to other countries in the manner in which he reportedly did, especially given the circumstances and disasters that led many TPS immigrants to seek refuge and shelter in the US," Paulsen tweeted.

"I hope the White House apologizes for these degrading comments and focuses on working towards a solution for those from TPS countries rather than making denigrating statements," he added.

Fellow Republican Representative Mia Love also slammed Trump's "unkind, divisive" remarks.

Republican Representative Mia Love

"My parents came from one of those countries, took an oath of allegiance to it, and took on the responsibilities of everything that being a citizen comes with," the Haitian-American said in a statement.

The White House issued a statement on Thursday in response to The Washington Post report, but did not deny Trump's despicable description of an entire continent.

White House spokesman Raj Shah said the president supports an immigration policy that welcomes "those who can contribute to our society.”

“Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people,” Shah said.

'President of the United States is racist'

CNN host Don Lemon

Meanwhile, CNN host Don Lemon began his Thursday night show by describing Trump as “racist”.

“The president of the United States is racist,” Lemon said at the opening of his show. “A lot of us already knew that.”

Lemon labeled Trump’s remarks as “disgusting.”

“There’s other language I’d like to use, but we are on television,” Lemon said. “But you know what? They’re not shocking. They’re not even really surprising. Because this is who Donald Trump is.”

Earlier on Thursday, Lemon’s fellow CNN host Anderson Cooper also condemned Trump’s remarks, describing them as “racist.”

"Not racial. Not racially charged. Racist … the sentiment the President expressed today is a racist sentiment," Cooper said, adding that, "For him to claim that all the countries of Africa are shitholes is woefully ignorant."