US President Donald Trump has sparked outrage in Libya after describing the North African nation as a “shithole country”, alongside Yemen, Somalia and Haiti, during a political rally in Georgia.

The remarks provoked an angry response from Libya’s eastern-based government in Benghazi, which accused Trump of having visited the private island owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

According to Libya Review, the eastern administration made the explosive allegation that Trump was among those who visited Little Saint James, the Caribbean island owned by Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019.

Describing the American president as “one of the visitors to the filthy Epstein Island”, the Benghazi-based government demanded a formal apology for his remarks about Libya.

The accusation was made without supporting evidence.

Meanwhile, Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army, condemned Trump’s comments about Libya and its people, describing them as unacceptable.

“Electoral disputes or domestic political considerations cannot justify insulting other countries and their peoples or undermining their dignity. Libya is an independent, sovereign state, and its national dignity must be respected under all circumstances,” Haftar said in a social media statement.

He also called for an unequivocal government response, urging the relevant authorities to lodge a formal diplomatic protest with Washington and demand an appropriate response to the president’s remarks.

“Libya remains committed to maintaining friendly and cooperative relations with the United States, but mutual respect must remain the foundation of bilateral ties,” he added.

Trump: If Abdul and the Democrats win, they will open the floodgates and invite hordes of jihadists to our shores, creating a nightmare of violence and terror until you cannot even have a Christmas. https://t.co/XqJFwO46WF

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 25, 2026

Dbeibah: We reject any insult to the Libyan people

Following the condemnation from Benghazi, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, prime minister of Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, also weighed in on the controversy.

“Libya is a sovereign state, and we reject any insult directed at it or its people, who have made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism,” Dbeibah wrote.

“We seek to maintain our relations with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, and we will not accept the dignity of Libya and its people becoming a subject of electoral disputes.”

The diplomatic row erupted after Trump made the remarks during a campaign rally in Georgia, where he referred to Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Haiti as “shithouse countries”.

“They’re infested with terrorists. Remember what I call them? Shithouse countries,” the US President said, drawing laughter from supporters in the audience.

Libyan leaders demand an apology after the US president branded Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Haiti ‘shithouse countries’ at a rally in Georgia, prompting an angry response from Saddam Haftar and both rival Libyan administrations.

#BREAKING Libya’s eastern-based government in Benghazi accuses US President Donald Trump of being “one of the visitors to the filthy Epstein Island”, condemning his remarks about Libya and demanding a formal apology. 🟡 The condemnation follows reports that Trump described Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Haiti as “shithouse countries” during a rally in Georgia.

— Libya Review (@LibyaReview) October 25, 2026