By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 31, 2016 |
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 31, 2016 |
In case you missed it, late last night it was announced that Donald Trump would be visiting Mexico to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto today.
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
Trump taking Latino outreach effort all the way to Mexico. What could go wrong w/ last minute, hastily planned trip? https://t.co/thgx7jgmsU
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) August 31, 2016
Just a refresher. This is what Trump thinks of Mexico.
As Donald Trump heads to Mexico today, a few of his greatest hits: pic.twitter.com/YpbgMklmiC
— Dave Levinthal (@davelevinthal) August 31, 2016
He’s not exactly beloved there.
favorable / unfavorable among Mexican voters:
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) August 31, 2016
Clinton - 50% / 6%
Trump - 2% / 75%https://t.co/QNVJ17MRWw
I mean …
Pretty sure Trump flying to Mexico for a few hours doesn't erase his year of non-stop racist filth.
— Kaili Joy Gray (@KailiJoy) August 31, 2016
[checks the rules]
Yep.
And it’s not like Peña Nieto is a fan of Trump’s.
Worth noting: Mexico's Peña Nieto recently compared Trump to dictators like Benito Mussolini & Hitler
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) August 31, 2016
Then why is Trump visiting Mexico to meet their President?
Why does Trump think Trump's going to Mexico? Can someone tell me that at least?
— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) August 31, 2016
Step 1: Go to Mexico
— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) August 31, 2016
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: VOTES
This sounds exactly like what Trump might do.
Trump: I met him. He's gonna pay for the wall.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 31, 2016
Nieto: I never said that.
Trump: He has to say that, of course *wink*
Trumpkins: You are God.
It would explain this:
Trump has not sent any info to press list about schedule or press logistics for Mexico trip. I wonder what reporting/images we will get.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) August 31, 2016
Will a Mexican President who is already deeply unpopular in his country use the opportunity to stand up to Trump and gain back public favor? It’s the only reason I can see for him to agree to the meeting.
Public pressure for @EPN to stand up for Mexico and its citizens against the insults of Trump will be *enormous* tomorrow.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 31, 2016
From Talking Points Memo:
It’s a general rule of politics not to enter into unpredictable situations or cede control of an event or happening to someone who wants to hurt you. President Nieto definitely does not want Donald Trump to become President. He probably assumes he won’t become president, simply by reading the polls. President Nieto is himself quite unpopular at the moment. But no one is more unpopular than Donald Trump. Trump is reviled. Toadying to Trump would be extremely bad politics; standing up to him, good politics.Put those factors together and Peña Nieto has massive and overlapping reasons to want to embarrass Trump. At a minimum since he’s probably not eager to create a true international incident, he has zero interest in appearing in any way accommodating or helpful.
But it could easily backfire.
@joshtpm I wonder about this though. There will be significant protests - maybe even massive. Nieto can't control that. He is despised.
— Elliott Lusztig (@ezlusztig) August 31, 2016
There is, however, one possible upside:
I'm just putting this out there: U.S. Customs and Border agents could easily label Trump a threat and not let him back in from Mexico.
— The Rude Pundit (@rudepundit) August 31, 2016
God I hope Trump gets stopped at the border on his way back from Mexico for trying to smuggle Viagra in his wig.
— andy lassner (@andylassner) August 31, 2016
Trump is going to Mexico and now there is like a three hour window where building that wall seems like an ok plan.
— Brock Wilbur (@brockwilbur) August 31, 2016
It’s going to be a weird day, you guys.