In battle to win majorities in Congress, Trump doubles down on immigration
Mexico will pay for border wall, US president tells GOP supporters
President Donald Trump insisted anew on Tuesday that Mexico will pay for his proposed border wall and “enjoy it” as he tied Republican success in the November midterm elections to a continued focus on illegal immigration and border security.
Democrats are “bad at everything, but they’re good at sticking together” in Congress, Trump said as he campaigned for Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.
“In the end, Mexico is going to pay for the wall,” Trump said. “I’m telling you. I don’t want to cause any problem, but in the end Mexico is going to pay for the wall.”
Trump implied that Mexico is making concessions in the ongoing negotiations over continuation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
“They’re going to pay for the wall and they’re going to enjoy it,” Trump said.
Nieto responds
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto responded late on Tuesday by repeating that his country will “never” pay for the border wall. “President @ realDonaldTrump: NO. Mexico will NEVER pay for a wall. Not now, not ever. Sincerely, Mexico,” Pena Nieto said on Twitter, according to reports.
In Tennessee, which went for Trump by 26 points in 2016, Blackburn is strongly emphasising her support for Trump as she battles former Democratic governor Phil Bredesen to succeed Republican Senator Bob Corker.
The crowd booed when Trump mentioned Corker, a sometime critic of Trump’s who is retiring.
In a rambling address lasting more than an hour, Trump returned frequently to the issue of illegal immigration and what he claimed is its link to crime and instability in the United States.
Though Trump has repeatedly talked about immigration in recent events he explicitly framed the issue in political terms Tuesday night, calling it a boon for Republicans in November.
Accusing Democrats of wanting “open borders,” Trump added: “That’s a good issue for us, not for them.”
Trump implied that Mexico is making concessions in the ongoing negotiations over NAFTA.