Donald Trump told Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday (August 31) that the United States has the right to build a border wall to halt illegal immigration, but the Republican presidential candidate did not bring up his signature demand that Mexico pay for it.
In an unexpected trip to a country that he has vilified for causing illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States, Trump held talks with the Mexican leader at his Los Pinos residence for about an hour.
The Republican candidate struck a more conciliatory tone with the United States’ southern neighbour during his visit.
“We are united by our support for democracy, a great love for our people and the contributions of millions of Mexican Americans to the United States. And I happen to have a tremendous feeling for Mexican Americans not only in terms of friendships, but in terms of the tremendous numbers that I employ in the United States and they are amazing people, amazing people,” he said.
Trump is trailing Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in opinion polls for the November 8 election. The New York businessman’s aides hoped the trip would make him look presidential and show he is willing to deal head on with a thorny issue like relations with Mexico.
But his omission of asking Mexico to pay for the wall during Wednesday’s talks was notable.
“We recognise and respect the right of either country to build a physical barrier or wall on any of its borders to stop the illegal movement of people, drugs and weapons,” said Trump.
Trump’s call for Mexico to fund the wall is often the central moment of his campaign rallies. He asks the crowd who will pay for the wall, and supporters shout back, “Mexico!”
The presidential hopeful said it was too early to discuss payment.
“We did discuss the wall. We didn’t discuss payment of the wall. That’ll be for a later date. This was a very preliminary meeting. I think it was an excellent meeting and we are – I think we’re very well on our way. A lot of the things I said are very strong but we have to be strong, we have to say what’s happening. And there is crime, as you know there’s a lot of crime and there’s a lot of problems,” he said.
Mexican opposition politicians attacked Pena Nieto for hosting Trump.
The Republican candidate first made his accusations that Mexico is sending criminals and rapists across the border and pledged to build a wall that Mexico would pay for when he launched his presidential bid in June last year. He has also accused Mexico of cheating the United States on trade.
Leaving aside Trump’s comments, Pena Nieto said he was willing to work with either candidate to advance mutual interests.
“That the willingness expressed of the Mexican presidency to meet with both candidates of the United States government is precisely based on that same premise to work together. But above all, based in a mutual respect among nations. This is what I have shared with candidate Trump,” added Pena Nieto.
The Mexican president said the many millions of Mexicans in the United States deserve respect, but offered only a mild rebuke of Trump for his rhetoric.
“I also asked and showed Mr Trump the great responsibility that I have to defend the Mexican population, both to Mexicans who are here and outside of Mexico. That there has been a misinterpretation or assertions that regrettably had hurt and has affected Mexicans,” he declared.
Trump’s visit to Mexico City took place hours before he was due to deliver a highly anticipated speech in the U.S. border state of Arizona on how he would tackle illegal immigration if he wins the election.
Trump has been pilloried in Mexico since he launched his White House campaign last year.
He has pledged to renegotiate or scrap the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016