Donald J. Trump’s impromptu visit to Mexico went well.
Don’t you think?
Me neither.
The Republican presidential nominee flew to Mexico City and met behind closed doors with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. They talked about illegal immigration, but apparently did not discuss that “big, beautiful wall” that Trump wants to extend along the countries’ border.
Now comes word from Mexico that the plan is “outrageous” and that Mexico isn’t going to pay a nickel for it, as Trump insists they should.
So, where do we stand?
I believe we are precisely at the same point we were prior to Trump’s visit.
As near as I can figure, one sovereign country cannot dictate to another sovereign country how to spend its money. So, if the United States is going to demand that Mexico pay for construction of a wall, then Mexico is within its legal authority to refuse.
Here’s how Reuters reported an exchange between Trump and Pena Nieto: “On Twitter early on Thursday, Trump wrote, ‘Mexico will pay for the wall!’
“That prompted a Twitter reply from Pena Nieto later in the day: ‘I repeat what I told you personally Mr. Trump, Mexico would never pay for a wall.'”
This is Donald Trump’s view of international diplomacy.
“Yes, you will. No we won’t. Yes, you will, or else! I dare you to invoke the ‘or else.'”
Do you see how this is a ridiculous notion?
Trump’s build-a-wall theme played well to the Republican Party voter base that propelled him to the GOP nomination. He’s got those folks in his hip pocket.
The rest of the country? The voters ofĀ Latin AmericanĀ heritage who are becoming increasingly infuriated at Trump’s anti-Mexico rhetoric? Independent voters?
Whatever the GOP nominee hoped to accomplish with those folks has now, I believe, been flushed away.