In a meeting to discuss immigration legislation on Jan. 11, President Trump questioned why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti and “s—thole countries” in Africa rather than places like Norway. White House spokesman Raj Shah did not deny these remarks while issuing a statement saying Trump supports immigration policies that welcome “those who can contribute to our society.”

These comments added to alleged comments last year that “people coming from Haiti all have AIDS,” that recent Nigerian immigrants would never “go back to their huts,” leave little doubt to the mindset of the President. Republicans will not call these racist remarks. I will!

Why Norway? It’s not that the President admires Norwegian social and economic polices: free healthcare, free education, 10 months maternity leave for both mother and father, four weeks of government paid vacations each year, or generous unemployment insurance for the 2 percent who are unemployed.

No, President Trump would welcome immigrants from Norway due to the fact that over 90 percent of Norwegians are Caucasian and less than 2 percent of their population are from Africa or Latin America, and that is racist!

What is the impact on the presidency? We have never had a president with such a weak commitment to democratic rules. We have never had a president who denies the legitimacy of his opponents. We have never had a president so willing to curb civil liberties or the media. We have never had a president be so unconcerned with those of us who are unprotected and vulnerable while so concerned for those of us who have wealth and power.

What is the global impact? What will the citizens of the 54 African nations take from his comments? What will the citizens of the world think?

Is this who we are as Americans? I think not!