Mexican president makes clear country ‘will not close borders’ just hours after Trump declares BIG victory by claiming she said EXACTLY the opposite
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum quickly threw cold water on Donald Trump’s claim that he had secured the “immediate” end of migrants crossing the southern border, insisting that her country “will not close its borders.”
Sheinbaum contradicted the president-elect just hours after claiming on Truth Social that he had a “great” conversation with her that resulted in a promise that “Mexico will stop people from going to our southern border, effective immediately.”
She replied: “In our conversation with President Trump, I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has adopted to address the migration phenomenon, while respecting human rights.
“This will help migrants and caravans before they reach the border,” she said.
“We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close its borders, but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.”
Sheinbaum’s statement contradicting Trump came after nemesis Maggie Haberman predicted that Trump’s claim of a huge immigration victory may be more bluster than actual diplomacy.
Haberman said during an appearance on CNN that she was surprised by the president-elect’s announcement.
“I have no idea what that actually means,” Haberman replied. “He’s made statements like that before when he was president, and it didn’t actually amount to closing a border.”
Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that he and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had reached a major immigration deal ‘effective immediately’ – before claiming they had not done so just hours later
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted her country ‘will not close its borders’ and was focused on ‘respecting human rights’ in response to Trump’s claim about their deal
Her scathing assessment came a day after Trump gave her a mean nickname in response to a critical story about aide Natalie Harp.
Sheinbaum’s conversation with Trump followed a two-day back-and-forth between the two world leaders over immigration, fentanyl and trade sanctions.
On Monday, Trump threatened to impose a crippling 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico ‘until drugs, especially Fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country!’.
After Trump’s tariff threat, Sheinbaum shot back: “Seventy percent of the illegal guns seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country.”
But a day later, Trump appeared elated after the two had a “great” conversation in which details of their supposed agreement were given.
“Just had a great conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo,” the Republican wrote.
“She has agreed to stop migration through Mexico and into the United States, effectively closing our southern border.”
“We also discussed what can be done to stop the massive influx of drugs into the United States, as well as the American consumption of these drugs. It was a very productive conversation!’
Sheinbaum initially agreed that the two leaders had an “excellent” conversation.
“I had an excellent conversation with President Donald Trump,” she posted on X at the time.
“We discussed Mexico’s strategy regarding the migration phenomenon, and I mentioned that caravans are no longer reaching the northern border, as they are being handled within Mexico.”
But she denied Trump’s claim that she would close the border “immediately.”
Had Sheinbaum followed Trump’s original claim and closed the border, it would have marked a significant early victory for the president-elect after he made illegal immigration one of the key pillars of his 2024 platform.
Nearly 11 million migrants, meaning those who crossed the border illegally, have been encountered since fiscal year 2021, according to federal data.
While the two leaders were not on the same page Wednesday on their plans for the border, Sheinbaum also pointed out in her response that since last December, “encounters at the Mexico-United States border have decreased by 75%.”
Migrants cross back and forth between the United States and Mexico on the Rio Grande in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico on Thursday, September 16, 2021
The Mexican president responded to Trump’s threats on Tuesday during her daily news conference in Mexico City, where she read from a letter she plans to send to the newly elected president.
“One tariff will be followed by another in response, and so on, until we endanger ordinary businesses,” Sheinbaum said.
She even named specific American companies that could be threatened by Trump’s plan.
“The main exporters from Mexico to the US are General Motors, Stellantis and Ford Motor Company, which arrived 80 years ago. Why would we introduce a tariff that puts them at risk?’ she asked.
But on Wednesday evening, she called the conversation between her and the Republican “wonderful” and “productive.”
In a separate post, Trump also announced a new effort to address the more than 100,000 fentanyl overdose deaths that have occurred in the US over the past four years.
“I will be working on a massive advertising campaign in the United States explaining how bad fentanyl is for people to use – millions of lives are needlessly destroyed,” another post said.
“By the time the campaign is over, everyone will know the horror of this drug.”