Enrique Pena Nieto, Mexico’s president, has canceled his upcoming visit to Washington. According to The New York Times, the decision came as a result of President Donald Trump’s order to construct the border wall he touted throughout his campaign.
Tension between the two leaders had, essentially, existed long before Trump took office. However, since his inauguration on Jan. 20, it has come to a head. The Washington Post reports that Trump put pen to paper on Wednesday, signing an executive order to proceed with his plans to develop a physical barrier along the Mexican border. Although Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have referenced plans to gather the billions of dollars needed to build the wall, Trump continues to insist that Mexico will, ultimately, foot the bill. His latest idea is a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports.
But Mexico is none too impressed by this logic—and the nation refuses to comply. Just one day after the order was signed, Pena Nieto called off the meeting he and Trump had scheduled for this Tuesday. He tweeted the announcement to his followers.
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
Because a story’s not a story without two sides, Trump was quick to share his take on the situation. As the Washington Post points out, our current POTUS believes the choice was mutual.
“The president of Mexico and myself have agreed to cancel our planned meeting,” Trump told those in attendance at a GOP policy retreat in Philadelphia on Thursday. “Unless Mexico is going to treat the United States fairly, with respect, such a meeting would be fruitless.”
So Mexico’s the unfair member of this relationship? Interesting.
