A White House official has confirmed that President Trump told the president of Mexico to take care of the “bad hombres” in his country, but said it was meant in a “lighthearted” manner.
(Photo: Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Trump told Enrique Peña Nieto in a call last Friday that there were “a bunch of bad hombres down there,” but he wasn’t “doing enough to stop them.”
“You have a bunch of bad hombres down there,” Trump reportedly said during the call. “You aren’t doing enough to stop them. I think your military is scared. Our military isn’t, so I just might send them down to take care of it.”
In an update published Thursday, a White House official clarified that the comment was “a reference to cooperation between the countries in fighting drug cartels” and meant to be “lighthearted.” (REPORT: Trump Threatens To Send Troops Into Mexico)
(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
“Those comments, while lighthearted, were part of a discussion about how the United States and Mexico could work collaboratively to combat drug cartels and other criminal elements, and make the border more secure,” the White House official — who said the conversation was “pleasant and constructive” — said.