JOHANNESBURG — South Africa is formally protesting President Trump's vulgar comments last week.

Using vulgar language, Trump on Thursday questioned why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti and Africa rather than places like Norway in rejecting a bipartisan immigration deal. On Friday, he denied using that language.

The African Union calling on the President to take back his comments and apologize.

The African Union continental body told The Associated Press it was “frankly alarmed” by Trump’s comments.

“Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behavior and practice,” AU spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo said.

In a tweet, President Trump says the comments are lies and not the language he used.

On Sunday, he defended himself further in an interview saying, "I am the least racist person you've ever interviewed, that I can tell you.”

Trump’s comments were “shocking and shameful” and “I’m sorry, but there’s no other word one can use but racist,” said a spokesman for the U.N. human rights office, Rupert Colville.

The protest is scheduled for sometime Monday outside the U.S. embassy.

This Associated Press contributed to this report.