What Do Mexican Citizens Think of Donald Trump’s Visit? Vicente Fox, Twitter Users Fuming
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigns on a vague immigration plan centered on fortifying the U.S.-Mexico wall and deporting some, if not all, of the undocumented immigrants living in the country.
Trump's efforts over the last 14 months come to a head Wednesday as he flies to Mexico for a meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto before delivering a major immigration speech in Phoenix.
The irony is not lost of former Mexico President Vicente Fox, who apologized for the meeting on behalf of the Mexican people Wednesday morning.
"It is a very opportunistic move, and I hope U.S. public opinion, U.S. citizens can see this and finally, and finally see what is behind Trump, this false prophet that is just cheating everybody," Fox said on CNN's "New Day."
Fox said Mexicans "don't like him; we don't want him; we reject his message," adding that the only way the visit makes sense is if Trump apologizes for his anti-Mexican rhetoric.
Trump and Fox's Twitter War
Fox was among the first Mexican citizens to disavow the Trump-Peña Nieto meeting, tweeting that there was "no turning back."
"Trump, your offensive behavior towards Mexicans, Muslims and others have put you in the hole you're now in. Adios, Trump!," Fox wrote.
No hay vuelta atrás, Trump, tus ofensas hacia los mexicanos, musulmanes y más, te han llevado al hoyo donde estás hoy ¡Adiós, Trump!
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) August 31, 2016
Shortly after Fox's CNN interview, Trump replied by tweeting Fox extended a similar invitation. "Former President Vicente Fox, who is railing against my visit to Mexico today, also invited me when he apologized for using the "f bomb," Trump wrote.
Former President Vicente Fox, who is railing against my visit to Mexico today, also invited me when he apologized for using the "f bomb." — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2016
Last February, Fox told Fusion's Jorge Ramos that Mexico is "not going to pay for that f-----g wall." Fox backtracked two months later on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor," inviting Trump "to learn about the real Mexico." Fox was less sympathetic upon learning about Wednesday's visit, calling on Trump to "show some respect."
México no quiere a @realDonaldTrump, México nunca confiará en él. No permitamos que utilice a nuestro país para sus propios intereses. — Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) August 31, 2016
¡No lo creo! El Pdte. de MX recibiendo a Trump, candidato perdedor. El Aeropuerto saturado no tiene capacidad de recibir vuelos privados. — Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) August 31, 2016
How @realDonaldTrump will explain the "unexplainable"? Now trying to make love to Mexicans, when he promised his followers to throw us out.
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) August 31, 2016
Mexican Twitter Users Scold Peña Nieto
In the U.S., reaction to Trump's last-second trip is of wonder and amusement, given that the New York businessman is visiting a nation he condemns for sending "criminals" and "rapists." Aside from musing over a deportation task force, Trump has revealed little of what a Trump presidency would mean to some 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Mexicans, including many politicians, were alarmed.
Democratic Revolution Party leader Miguel Barbosa, one of Peña Nieto's ardent critics, tweeted that it was a "grave political mistake" to let Trump serve his own interests. Former President Felipe Calderón's wife, Margarita Zavala, said "Mexicans have dignity and repudiate his hate speech," and historian Hector Aguilar Camin said the only alternative to Trump apologizing is for Peña Nieto to lose the little support he still has.
Repudio la presencia de @realDonaldTrump en México. Es un error político de @EPN dejarse utilizar por este mentiroso antimexicano. — Miguel Barbosa (@MBarbosaMX) August 31, 2016
. @realDonaldTrump tu presencia en México no es grata. ¡Lárgate! Vienes a tomarte la foto con quienes has ofendido. — Miguel Barbosa (@MBarbosaMX) August 31, 2016
Sr. @realDonaldTrump aunque lo hayan invitado, sepa que no es bienvenido. Los mexicanos tenemos dignidad y repudiamos su discurso de odio. — Margarita Zavala (@Mzavalagc) August 31, 2016
La visita de Trump tiene ya los síntomas de un pleito con la próxima presidenta de los Estados Unidos. — Héctor Aguilar Camín (@aguilarcamin) August 31, 2016
Former Mexican diplomats and ambassadors to the U.S. also tweeted their disapproval, including Arturo Sarukhan, who tweeted "Trump & his xenophobia & sends the message that there is not cost bashing Mexico & Mexican migrants."
Si esto es así, manda la señal que golpear a México no tiene costo; valida la xenofobia de Trump; y lo legitima https://t.co/pZsHTCp41V — Arturo Sarukhan (@Arturo_Sarukhan) August 31, 2016
Nadie como #Trump ha puesto en tal nivel de peligro la relación de México y EEUU en los últimos 50 años. Lamento profundamente la invitación
— Miguel Basáñez (@mbasanez) August 31, 2016
Social media users tried planning a protest at El ángel in downtown Mexico City, but it was short-lived. Other voiced opposition with hashtags like #NoEresBienvendioTrump (Trump, You Are Not Welcome) and #FueraTrumpFueraEPN (Out with Trump, Out with Enrique Peña Nieto).
Parece que el presidente @EPN se empecina a seguir perdiendo popularidad, repudio y odio de los mexicanos #NoEresBienvenidoDonaldTrump — Elvin Torres (@Elvin_TB) August 31, 2016
Mil disculpas por salirnos del habitual seguimiento a Cumberbatch, pero somos mexicanos y tenemos dignidad#NoEresBienvenidoDonaldTrump
— CumberbatchEnEspañol (@BCumberbatchMex) August 31, 2016
#SrTrumpConTodoRespeto ... debería ser sin Nada de respeto!!!, cuando el ha respetado a los Mexicanos????!!! #NoEresBienvenidoDonaldTrump — Nes (@Ines_FD) August 31, 2016
Ahora es cuando los que se dedican manifestarse deberían estar afuera de los pinos. #NoEresBienvenidoDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/RsAR95AMue
— Martha Rios (@marthzrios) August 31, 2016
Y tu #Mexicano no crees Que esta visita es un insulto al pueblo? #TrumpNoEresBienvenido #FueraTrumpFueraEPN pic.twitter.com/vh63uG9F2H — FER CANALLA (@canallasforever) August 31, 2016
Protestan frente al Ángel de la Independencia contra #TrumpEnMexico, #FueraTrumpFueraEPN. pic.twitter.com/mcDxR3kUQp
— Jazmín Bonilla (@GeIsomina) August 31, 2016
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