Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto insisted Friday that he is now just “observing” the U.S. election, after he had previously compared Donald Trump’s rhetoric to that of WWII dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
“The Mexican government will be observing with great interest the electoral process of this country, but it will not give its opinion,” Pena Nieto said during a news conference with President Obama at the White House on Friday. “It will not get involved in said process.”
He also promised to work closely with the U.S., even if Trump becomes its next president.
“[L]et me express my absolute will of collaboration to whomever is selected in November as the leader of this great nation,” he said. “The next madam or president of the United States will find in Mexico and its government a constructive attitude with proposals and good faith to strengthen the relationship between our two nations.”
Pena Nieto extended his “deepest respect” to both Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
“And for right now, I propose going into a frank, open dialogue with whomever is elected on the relationship between our two nations,” he said. “Your next madam president or president will find in Mexico a strategic partner to face economic issues that we share, and all the challenges that we share.”
He said a strong U.S. is good for the whole continent, and vice versa.
“Undoubtedly, for Mexico, it is very important for the United States to do well and for the United States to have a strong economy,” he said. “And for the United States, it’s also very convenient for the Mexican economy to also do well.”
