President Donald Trump allegedly made comments in a closed-door meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2017, with legislators which caused massive controversy.

When being briefed on the diversity lottery program through which immigrants from certain countries, mostly in Africa, are given a better opportunity to come to America, Trump asked: “Why do we need more people coming in from these shit-hole countries?” Later, he singled out Haiti, commenting: “Why do we need more Haitians, take them out,” followed by an insistence on taking in more immigrants from countries like Norway. Trump’s comments sparked a political fire (again) with both the diction and sentiment of the President being denounced by many. The Patriot Press took to the hallways of Wayne Hills, in this polarizing time, to ask what students think of the President’s most recent controversial remark.

Senior Ryan Rosado told the Press that “[President Trump] could have chosen his words better… If they want to come, they can come, why not?” His sentiment is favorable towards immigrants coming through the system no matter what country they arrive from.

Junior Luke Bowyer, while joining Rosado in condemning the President’s language, spoke in favor of the President: “The language is inexcusable but his view towards immigration is correct.” Many respondents were quick to comment on the Trump’s poor word choice, but this Junior seems to agree with the President in that we do not need more “undesirable” immigrants from certain third-world countries.

One student, who asked to be left anonymous, also agreed with the President’s tough language on immigration: “I completely agree with Trump that we should not allow people from crime-ridden countries easy access to our country, you never know who you can trust.”

12th grade English teacher Toni Kiernan spared no expense in vociferously condemning the President: “It should come as no surprise because we have heard him insult people since he was in office, and we have heard him insult other people before. I would just say if it was an off-hand comment it wouldn’t be as troubling to me as this is just evidence that he’s unfit for office… he’s a bigoted racist.” However, she acknowledged that there might be problems with the diversity lottery Trump was criticizing, remarking that “I don’t think any part of the diversity lottery should be in our system.”

Senior Samir Odatalla was appalled when told about Trump’s comments. “I feel like [Trump] is not giving much opportunity to the people in these countries and now we are completely taking it away. Why do we even trust this man anymore who isn’t formal when it comes to anything? We should impeach him.”

Many other students not quoted here were sure to condemn the vulgarity of the President, and many others were convinced that the President was a racist. At the same time, Wayne Hills does have many students who agree with the Donald Trump’s controversial views, challenging political norms in a blue state like New Jersey. The President continues to breach political custom and in doing so is enabling controversial political ideologies, for better or worse.

In more recent developments, two Republican senators who attended the meeting denied that Trump said “shithole,” claiming that he instead said “shithouse.” Many commentators are not fazed by the shithole/shithouse distinction, regarding both derogatory terms as equivalent in conveying a racist sentiment.