Donald Trump is traveling to Mexico City on Wednesday to meet with President Enrique Pena Nieto.
I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2016
Kellyanne Conway, newly anointed Trump campaign manager, appeared on Fox & Friends to explain why the Donald is visiting Mexico.
Last Friday, Peña Nieto invited both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to visit Mexico. However, so far only Trump has RSVP’d.
This comes on the same day and just hours before he is set to deliver an important speech on his immigration policy.
I will be making a major speech on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION on Wednesday in the GREAT State of Arizona. Big crowds, looking for a larger venue.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2016
From day one I said that I was going to build a great wall on the SOUTHERN BORDER, and much more. Stop illegal immigration. Watch Wednesday!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2016
Even before his presidential campaign, Trump has said the United States needs and he will erect a huge wall on the southern border in an attempt to stifle illegal immigration. He has also stated that Mexico will pay for the wall on the U.S./Mexico border.
The fight against ISIS starts at our border. ‘At least’ 10 ISIS have been caught crossing the Mexico border. Build a wall!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2014
Mexico's court system corrupt.I want nothing to do with Mexico other than to build an impenetrable WALL and stop them from ripping off U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 6, 2015
The border is wide open for cartels & terrorists. Secure our border now. Build a massive wall & deduct the costs from Mexican foreign aid!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2015
One person not happy with Trump’s visit is former President Vicente Fox, who called the excursion “opportunistic” and a “political stunt.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on here, and I really apologize for our president taking this step forward. I really expect from him, as all 130 million Mexicans, all of our great brother Mexicans in the United States, an explanation from both, from President Peña and Trump himself.”
However, Fox did invite Trump in a Breitbart News interview earlier this year, “Come to Mexico and to see what Mexico is all about.”
Trump "I'm Coming"
Vincente Fox invites @realDonaldTrump to Mexico guess he never meant it #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings pic.twitter.com/lHsJ72uWoC— Mark Kennedy (@RealMarkKennedy) August 31, 2016
Former President Vicente Fox, who is railing against my visit to Mexico today, also invited me when he apologized for using the "f bomb."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2016
FMR PRES of Mexico, Vicente Fox horribly used the F word when discussing the wall. He must apologize! If I did that there would be a uproar!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2016
Fox and many other Mexicans were upset with Trump when he called Mexican immigrants “rapists” during his presidential announcement speech on June 16, 2015.
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Earlier in his campaign, Trump had proposals for a “deportation force” to push out the 16 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. However, the GOP presidential candidate has softened his approach. Last week, during a Fox News interview he said he was now open to steps that could accommodate law-abiding people who had built strong family ties in the United States.
“There certainly can be a softening because we’re not looking to hurt people,” Trump said.
This appears as a very presidential move by Trump. It shows that he is willing to meet other world leaders to get their point of view and that he is willing to adapt his policies.
Mexico should be very interested in Trump’s strict policies of securing the border because if you decrease the cartel’s main source of revenue from U.S. buyers, you take power away the drug empire’s financial abilities to buy influence or weapons to instill their power.
This unexpected summit sparked the hashtag #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings to a top trending topic on Twitter, and there was plenty of snark.
https://twitter.com/DisruptGBM/status/770940151841382401
Hang on, so you guys do stuff other than sit around and eat taco bowls? #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) August 31, 2016
"I know walls. Walls love me. I build the best walls. Everyone agrees. They're terrific." #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings pic.twitter.com/tjdNco93d1
— Ian Laking (@IHLaking) August 31, 2016
https://twitter.com/trolling4tuna/status/770933943818477568
I can't wait for the best authentic Mexican food! Where's Del Taco? #trumpsmexicotripsayings
— Gary V. Foss (@garyvfoss) August 31, 2016
"I'm not gonna take the time to learn your names, so I'll just refer to you as Rapist #1, Rapist #2, Rapist #3…"#TrumpsMexicoTripSayings
— Eric Wolfson (@EricWolfson) August 31, 2016
You guys have the best dogs, chihuahuas make my hands look big #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings
— Parody Account (@YGSparody) August 31, 2016
And, I assume, some of them are good people.#TrumpsMexicoTripSayings https://t.co/Ax8KdTnRuq
— Ali A. Rizvi (@aliamjadrizvi) August 31, 2016
https://twitter.com/horizonwalled/status/770988232398016512