Seventy-eight former U.S. ambassadors to African countries have sent a letter to the White House, expressing “deep concern” over President Donald Trump’s reported comments referring to African nations as “s—hole” countries.
“As former U.S. Ambassadors to 48 African countries, we write to express our deep concern regarding reports of your recent remarks about African countries and to attest to the importance of our partnerships with most of the fifty-four African nations,” the letter said. “As American ambassadors abroad we have seen Africa’s complex and rich cultures, awe-inspiring resilience, and breathtaking generosity and compassion.”
The letter lauded entrepreneurs, artists, activists, conservationists, and educators from the continent, while also stressing the importance of maintaining good relations between the United States and African nations.
“We hope that you will reassess your views on Africa and its citizens, and recognize the important contributions Africans and African Americans have made and continue to make to our country, our history, and the enduring bonds that will always link Africa and the United States,” the diplomats appealed to Trump in the letter.
One of the signatories, career diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria John Campbell told VOA the reaction to the president’s alleged remarks is fierce, and building — not dissipating.
Campbell says Nigeria’s foreign minister has summoned American diplomats to explain Trump’s remarks, calling them “deeply hurtful, offensive and unacceptable.”
The State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert reiterated president’s denial of using the vulgar word that has been widely reported.
“Let me first point out that the president has said that he did not make those comments, that there were other individuals in the room who said they certainly did not hear any comments of the sort,” she said.
Nauert said she would refer to the comments as “alleged comments” because it has not been proven Trump used the vulgarity.
