US President Donald Trump has denied using crude words attributed to him about Haiti, El Salvador and African countries, BBC reported.

Reports that he had called them "shithole countries" in an Oval Office meeting generated a backlash worldwide.

But Mr Trump has tweeted that "this was not the language" he used in a meeting about immigration.

However Democratic Senator Dick Durban said he heard Mr Trump use "vile, racist" language.

The Washington Post, the New York Times, Politico and the Wall Street Journal all reported the comments on Thursday, quoting witnesses or people briefed on the meeting. The White House did not deny them.

While denying the specific comments on Friday, Mr Trump admitted to using "tough" language.

Mr Trump's reported remark came as both Republican and Democratic lawmakers visited him on Thursday to propose a deal on immigration.

Mr Trump was said to have told them that instead of granting temporary residency to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway.

"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" the Washington Post quoted him as saying.