Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has canceled a meeting with Donald Trump that was scheduled for next week. The abrupt move came as Trump announced his plans to move forward with the construction of a wall — and his insistence that Mexico pay its cost.
Esta mañana hemos informado a la Casa Blanca que no asistiré a la reunión de trabajo programada para el próximo martes con el @POTUS.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) January 26, 2017
“I lament the U.S.’ decision to continue constructing a wall that far from uniting us, divides us. Mexico does not believe in walls,” Peña Nieto said.
Lamento y repruebo la decisión de EE.UU de continuar la construcción de un muro que lejos de unirnos, nos divide.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) January 26, 2017
The response from Mexico was much different than Trump promised on the campaign trail. In a speech following his victory in last February’s caucus in Nevada, Trump said that Mexico would be “thrilled to be paying for the wall” and “very happy.”
Trump’s pronouncement about the wall was one of 663 promises he made during the campaign.
Trump promised easy solutions and an improved relationship with Mexico. Now, as the New York Times reports, “Decades of friendly relations between the nations — on matters involving trade, security and migration — seemed to be unraveling.” Historians say this is a low point in bilateral relations between the two countries last seen in the era of Calvin Coolidge.
Last night, House Speaker Paul Ryan said that Congress would provide the full costs of the wall — which he estimated at $14 billion — and figure out a way to make Mexico pay for it later.
