Kushner honor roils Mexico

MEXICO CITY — The outgoing president of Mexico had expected to end his troubled term on a positive note — signing a new free-trade deal with the United States and Canada on Friday. Now even that moment has gone awry.

An announcement that President Enrique Peña Nieto would bestow Mexico’s highest honor for foreigners to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump, for his role in pushing through the trade pact has incited fury in Mexico.

The Foreign Ministry announced the recipient of the award, the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, on Tuesday. The incredulity and outrage began to spread almost immediately.

“In Enrique’s defense, the recognition of Kushner has succeeded in doing something we all thought impossible — THE UNION OF THIS COUNTRY against the contempt shown by this decision,” Javier Risco, a radio announcer, said on Twitter.

The Aztec Eagle honors nonMexicans for their service to the country. Once Kushner is decorated, he will be in the company of Queen Elizabeth II, King Philip VI of Spain, Nelson Mandela, Bill and Melinda Gates, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Bono.

The president, who will present the award this week on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in Buenos Aires, leaves office Saturday after a six-year term. His success in pushing through economic changes was overwhelmed by widespread corruption and a surge in violence.

In comments to reporters Tuesday, Peña Nieto called Kushner “a great ally” of Mexico who had “truly contributed to reaching this agreement.”