Wednesday saw a measured Donald Trump defending the right of the US to construct a wall on the border between it and Mexico while standing next to that nation’s President. Trump did not reiterate his demand that Mexico should pay for the construction.
The controversial Republican Presidential candidate also avoided mentioning his much-repeated criticism of immigrants from Mexico after a closed-door meeting with Enrique Pena Nieto, the country’s President. The two later talked to reporters with Trump noting that while they did not discuss payment, they did talk about the wall the billionaire wants to build between the two nations. Nieto has previously insulted the candidate, comparing him to Hitler, after Trump insulted Mexican immigrants coming to the US, calling them mostly criminals and rapists. He seemed considerably less combative in person, saying the two had had a constructive and open conversation in spite of their differences.
The surprise visit was potentially a politically dangerous decision for Trump, with only ten weeks to go before the US Presidential election. The decision came just a few hours before Trump was expected to deliver a speech in Arizona about his attitude toward illegal immigration, with some accusing him of softening his stance in recent weeks.
On Wednesday, during a CNN interview, Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, the Indiana Governor, declared that Trump will make it clear to Americans that he is the only candidate willing to take the necessary steps to stem the flood of illegal immigration to the US.