Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto says he’s ready to have a serious, constructive conversation with President Trump but will not let his “negative rhetoric” define Mexico’s actions.
“President Trump, if you want to come to an agreement with Mexico, we’re ready, as we have shown until now,” Pena Nieto said in a video statement Thursday. “We are always ready to hold a dialogue with seriousness, good faith, and a constructive spirit.”
In recent days, Trump has been focused on illegal immigration pouring in through Mexico and crime levels along the southern border, as evident in a flurry of tweets and statements rallying support for his physical border wall and stricter laws.
In response, Pena Nieto made it clear that he will act in the best interest of his people and not engage with the “negative rhetoric” spewed in Trump’s latest statements.
“If your latest statements are derived from internal political frustrations, your country’s laws, or your congress, direct [your frustration] at them, not at the Mexican people,” he said. “We will not allow negative rhetoric to define our actions. We will only act in the best interest of the Mexican peoples.”
The Mexican president went on to invoke a famous quote from former President John F. Kennedy: “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”
He suggested that the two neighboring nations foster a relationship of friendship and cooperation rather than one of force and border walls.
Hay algo que a todos, absolutamente a todos los mexicanos, nos une y nos convoca: la certeza de que nada, ni nadie, está por encima de la dignidad de México. pic.twitter.com/3FxfbAF4zl
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) April 5, 2018
President Trump announced this week that he will be sending National Guard troops to secure the U.S.-Mexico border from illegal border crossings.
