US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Senator Dick Durbin for blowing up talks over a deal to help immigrants brought to the country illegally as children and said the Democratic politician misrepresented his comments about Haiti and African countries.
"Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting," Mr Trump said in a post on Twitter, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that gave legal protection to young immigrants known as "Dreamers".
Senator Durbin has said Mr Trump used the term "s***hole" when speaking about Haiti and African countries at a White House meeting about immigration policy last week.
"Deals can't get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military (sic)," Mr Trump added.
In remarks to reporters in Chicago, Senator Durbin stood by his account of the meeting.
Mr Trump has drawn criticism at home, from Republicans and Democrats, and abroad for the comments attributed to him.
"I know what happened. I stand behind every word that I said," Senator Durbin said on Monday.
"In terms of that meeting, I'm focused on one thing - not that meeting - but on making sure that those who are being protected by DACA ... have a future in America. I'm focused on that full-time.
"I don't know if there was some other recording device that was being used within the Oval Office.
"If there was, I want to just call on the White House right now release whatever you have. If they don't have it so be it."
'A national security threat'
Meanwhile civil rights activists took aim at the president at a Martin Luther King event in New York.
High-profile activist Reverend Al Sharpton called on Mr Trump to look to his home state as an example of progress.
"We in New York understand the difference between those that oppose what Dr. King stood for and those that, in fact, make it happen," he said.
"Donald Trump needs to look at his home state, which is the only state that has a special prosecutor on police shootings to this day while he's running around telling folk don't be caring about being courteous when you put criminals in cars.
"We're talking about criminal justice reform. We are talking about raising the age. We're talking about New York being progressive while he's trying to make America regressive."
Rev Sharpton also accused Mr Trump of threatening national security after reports he used the term "s***hole countries" to describe Haiti and African countries.
"It is also a national security threat to insult the continent of Africa where we have terrorists that are active, ISIS and al Qaeda - they can spread all over Africa," he said.
"Now, saying 'this is what America thinks of you.' What the president said is a national security risk, is an international insult and it does not represent his home state."
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