I think Trump probably used the word. I find that regrettable in an official meeting. On a construction site, or in a locker room, that language would be tame.
My guess, though, is that Trump did not use it in the context as it has been described.
Overall, much ado about nothing.
> I think Trump probably used the word. ... My guess, though, is that Trump did not use it in the context as it has been described. <
Those are probably good assumptions. I find it difficult to believe that Durbin made Trump’s comment up out of thin air.
But at the same time I find it difficult to believe that Perdue would out-and-out lie. So yeah, I think you’ve nailed it here.
And as an aside, if Trump did use that word (even in a correct context), then he needs to be more careful. Democrats can get away with almost anything. But not Republicans.
That’s my theory as well. I suspect he was responding to the issue of whether to legalize refugees from these countries and said something like, “yes I know they’d have to go back to these shithole countries, but that can’t be our priority concern.” In other words as usual in these questions he was arguing not for discriminating against people from these countries but instead against granting them a preference. But to the left that’s racist.
I bet that word and much worse is used in virtually every executive office in the country and the western world. Large and small. Why are we dwelling on the faux outrage of the day?