President Donald Trump spoke with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto over the phone Friday, a day after Nieto cancelled a planned visit to Washington. Trump said that the call went well and he is seeking a “new relationship” with Mexico.
Nieto cancelled the visit following President Trump’s executive order calling for the construction of a southern border wall, and his continued pledge to make Mexico reimburse American taxpayers for the wall’s construction. (RELATED: Mexican Senator Threatens: We’ll Stop Fighting Terrorism If Trump Builds The Wall)
Trump tweeted Thursday morning, “Mexico has taken advantage of the U.S. for long enough. Massive trade deficits & little help on the very weak border must change, NOW!”
The president repeated this sentiment at a press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May. While he described the call as “very good,” Trump said, “Mexico has out-negotiated us and beat us to a pulp through our past leaders. They’ve made us look foolish.”
“We have a trade deficit of $60 billion with Mexico. On top of that, the border is soft and weak, and drugs are pouring in. I’m not going to let that happen,” the president added. He said the phone call with President Peña Nieto lasted about an hour and that “we are going to be working on a fair relationship and a new relationship.”
“The United States cannot continue to lose vast amount of business, vast amount of companies, and millions and millions of people losing their jobs. That won’t happen with me. We’re no longer to be a country that doesn’t know what it’s doing,” Trump said. The president added that not only is the U.S. going to renegotiate its trade deals with Mexico but also “other aspects of our relationship with Mexico.”