United States President Donald Trump has reportedly labelled some African countries “s***holes” during a meeting on immigration.

According to a Washington Post report, Mr Trump became frustrated after politicians floated protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a proposed bipartisan deal.

The Post quoted two people briefed on the Oval Office meeting on Thursday, stating Mr Trump said: “Why are we having all these people from s***hole countries come here?”

The two sources reported he then suggested the US bring in more people from countries like Norway.

The President met with Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Wednesday.

Mr Trump made the remark after Democratic Senator Richard Durbin and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told him that under the proposal, a lottery for visas would be ended.

Senator Durbin said that in exchange, people from African countries that have benefitted from that lottery would be given other access to visas as part of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

When asked whether Mr Trump made the disparaging comments, White House spokesman Raj Shah did not deny it.

“Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people,” he said, according to AP.

“The President will only accept an immigration deal that adequately addresses the visa lottery system and chain migration, two programs that hurt our economy and allow terrorists into our country.

“Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation.

“He will always reject temporary, weak and dangerous stopgap measures that threaten the lives of hardworking Americans, and undercut immigrants who seek a better life in the United States through a legal pathway.”

– with wires