Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto responded Wednesday to President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for the construction of a border wall by saying Mexicans “don’t believe” in walls.
President Peña Nieto said in a video posted to Twitter that he has also told Mexico’s foreign minister to reinforce protections for their citizens abroad. The Mexican president added that the 50 Mexican consulates in Mexico will work to protect the the rights of Mexican citizens.
Peña Nieto lamented the construction of the wall, saying that it will further divide the U.S. and Mexico. President Trump said Wednesday that the wall would benefit Mexico as it would curb the flow of Central American migrants going through the nation seeking to get to the U.S.
The Mexican president also said that “Mexico doesn’t believe in walls,” and that “Mexico won’t pay for a wall.” President Trump said Wednesday that Mexico will reimburse the U.S. for the wall, and one of his executive orders calls for an examination of direct and indirect U.S. foreign aid to Mexico.
President Peña Nieto is scheduled to visit with President Trump next week, and aides are reportedly urging him to cancel the trip. Peña Nieto did not address the trip in his Twitter video.