U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Monday defended President Donald Trump over his recent comments disparaging immigration from Africa and Haiti, telling The Associated Press that the president’s “heart” is aimed at a merit-based system that is blind to immigrants’ “race or creed.”

Pence, in an interview with the AP from Jerusalem, said the president was intent on implementing a merit-based system that encourages immigration by those who will “contribute to a growing American economy and thriving communities.”

“I know the president’s heart and I know that what President Trump wants to do is reform immigration to make our system one that puts the interests of America first,” Pence said. He added that immigrants should be considered on their merits, “regardless of what country they come from or what their race and creed is.”

He was responding to reports that Trump, in a private meeting with legislators earlier this month, challenged immigration from “(expletive removed)” African countries, disparaged Haiti and said the U.S. should welcome more immigrants from countries like Norway.

Pence, on a four-day visit to the Middle East while Washington grapples with a government shutdown, said in the AP interview that he was “hopeful that Democrats in the Senate will see their way clear to reopen the government.”

Hours later, after a Senate agreement was reached to end the shutdown, Pence said alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the impasse was ending “thanks to the firm stand taken by President Trump” and congressional Republicans.

“The Schumer shutdown failed,” Pence said, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Pence spoke to the AP after delivering to the Knesset a major address in which he announced Trump’s plans to expedite the move of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of next year. He was the first sitting American vice president to address the parliamentary body.

Pence said he had received no blowback from world leaders over Trump’s immigration comments.

“I just think leaders around the world appreciate the president’s renewed engagement. He appreciates the relationships that he’s forged with them,” Pence said.

A number of world leaders publicly denounced the comments as racist.

(AP)