# Donald Trump Threatens to Send Troops to Mexico **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 2, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788 "2017-02-02T00:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/41 "2017-02-02T19:30:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Used to be that terrorists had to either recruit Americans to commit terrorism here or they had to cross a goddam ocean to get their terrorists here. If we do this wrong, the terrorists will be able to walk here. > > That’s not to say that we couldn’t invade Mexico, destroy a couple of drug lords and send a strong message to the rest but all you need is a few sympathetic innocent bystanders and those drugs lords might start looking like freedom fighters. This really is not at all a joke. There is a long, long history, replete with examples, of strong ties/crossover between resistance movements against invaders and criminal enterprises. It’s the criminal enterprises that have the guns, the connections, and the ability to raise funds under the table, and just because you’re making some illiciy dough doesn’t mean you aren’t a patriot. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/42 "2017-02-02T19:41:00Z")
CNN says: > [@](#): > > CNN has also learned details about the Friday phone call between Trump and Peña Nieto, who canceled an in-person visit with Trump after the US President insisted Mexico pay for a border wall between the two countries. > According to an excerpt of the transcript of the call with Peña Nieto provided to CNN, Trump said, “You have some pretty tough hombres in Mexico that you may need help with. We are willing to help with that big-league, but they have be knocked out and you have not done a good job knocking them out.” Two different quotes. Both “tough hombres,” though. But the CNN version omits the threat, and has Trump saying “willing to help” instead of “maybe I’ll send.” ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/43 "2017-02-02T19:47:43Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > **White House insists Trump was joking about invading Mexico** > [White House insists Trump was joking about invading Mexico](http://nypost.com/2017/02/02/official-trumps-remarks-about-invading-mexico-were-lighthearted/) > > So, there’s that. Just funning around. Its a cultural trait, Mexican guys are totally easy-going about their personal dignity, and Trump is totally easy-going about their dignity too. > > (Your correspondent from the conservative wing of the extreme left notes that the cite doesn’t clarify what, perzackly, was a “joke”. Maybe he pronounced the “h” in “hombres”?) So it apparently answers the question about whether the AP needs to print a retraction. And, in addition to personal dignity, the Mexican people have long felt that the US is too stand-offish in our relationship, and that we should take a much more active stance in how their country is governed. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/44 "2017-02-02T20:55:49Z")
It seems strange that this alleged conversation happened on Friday, yet it is new news as of yesterday. I am with **RickJay** , we have been duped. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/45 "2017-02-03T13:57:38Z")
Just as an update, there have been calls on the Mexican gov’t from Mexicans to release the transcript. I hope they do so we can see exactly what was said. See last paragraph. > **[Mexico's president denies Trump threatened to invade Mexico](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mexico-deny-donald-trump-send-troops-over-us-mexico-border-president-enrique-pena-nieto-american-soldiers-a7558526.html)** > > US President allegedly said he would send troops into Mexico to stop 'bad hombres down there' if Mexico did not stop them itself, according to leaked transcript ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/46 "2017-02-03T16:29:04Z")
Yes, but will the transcript include Peña Nieto’s nervous chuckle, or Trump’s suspicious sniffing? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/47 "2017-02-03T18:35:59Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > This really is not at all a joke. There is a long, long history, replete with examples, of strong ties/crossover between resistance movements against invaders and criminal enterprises. It’s the criminal enterprises that have the guns, the connections, and the ability to raise funds under the table, and just because you’re making some illiciy dough doesn’t mean you aren’t a patriot. I wasn’t joking. Sorry if I sounded flippant. The freedom fighters in the Japanese occupied countries in Asia were frequently associated with criminals. Some of them were Robin Hood types and others became criminals because their resistance to the occupation made them hunted fugitives and that put them in the same pot as run of the mill criminals. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/48 "2017-02-03T19:29:26Z")
This scary. > **[World Leaders Receive Crank Calls from Someone Claiming to Be President of...](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/world-leaders-receive-crank-calls-from-someone-claiming-to-be-president-of-united-states)** > > According to the U.N. Secretary-General, the caller has tormented leaders from Mexico, Australia, and many other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/49 "2017-02-03T19:41:37Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > This scary. > > [World Leaders Receive Crank Calls from Someone Claiming to Be President of United States | The New Yorker](http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/world-leaders-receive-crank-calls-from-someone-claiming-to-be-president-of-united-states) It’s satire, and funny as hell when you realize it. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/50 "2017-02-03T21:06:25Z")
[And now he wants to go to war with Iran.](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/iran-on-notice-trump-michael-flynn-234503) [And Bannon wants to go to war with China](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/02/steve-bannon-donald-trump-war-south-china-sea-no-doubt). ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/51 "2017-02-03T21:07:18Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > [That worked so well the last time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Villa_Expedition) (:rolleyes:) When the US sent troops over the border to get Pancho Villa, my wife’s grandfather flew “air support” for the mission. I talked to him one time about it, and the pilots had pistols. He also wrote a book about it. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/52 "2017-02-03T21:16:13Z")
I saw this movie before. Groucho Goes to War on False Pretenses "This Country's Going to War"- Duck Soup sequence ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/53 "2017-02-03T21:30:37Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > You think he is beyond invading Mexico? It’s America’s Ireland. When I saw the “Red Dawn” movies back in the day (the first on Blockbuster Penny Night, the other when it was on cable) I always thought that the premise was stupid and ridiculously flawed. “A Mexico that is militarily allied with Russia or China? Why would they ever do that or need to do that? Wouldn’t a better movie be about the DIP-SHIT that would have let that happen or made that possible? Just how Stupid can Hollywood be?” But then Trump became President. Lies and Stupidity became the new ‘Business as Usual’. I guess now, decades later, I can finally see how that just _might_ be possible… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/54 "2017-02-03T23:26:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > **White House insists Trump was joking about invading Mexico** > [White House insists Trump was joking about invading Mexico](http://nypost.com/2017/02/02/official-trumps-remarks-about-invading-mexico-were-lighthearted/) > > So, there’s that. Just funning around. Reminds me of a joke: “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/55 "2017-02-03T23:34:15Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I saw this movie before. > > Groucho Goes to War on False Pretenses > > "This Country's Going to War"- Duck Soup sequence Of course you know this means war. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/56 "2017-02-03T23:42:58Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [And now he wants to go to war with Iran.](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/iran-on-notice-trump-michael-flynn-234503) > [And Bannon wants to go to war with China](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/02/steve-bannon-donald-trump-war-south-china-sea-no-doubt). Maybe it is intended to be a lighthearted joke? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/57 "2017-02-03T23:45:42Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > It seems strange that this alleged conversation happened on Friday, yet it is new news as of yesterday. Are you surprised at how long it takes the Trump administration to leak, or how short? I’m not trying to be smart here as I haven’t posted here in a while and do not know your political stance. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/58 "2017-02-04T01:41:51Z")
Did it occur to anyone that if Trump invaded and occupied part of Mexico they might just say the Hell with it, and unilaterally cede the occupied territories to the US. The US could end up with a bunch of new land controlled by drug lords, and a bunch of new citizens after the border crossed them. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/59 "2017-02-04T01:54:55Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Did it occur to anyone that if Trump invaded and occupied part of Mexico they might just say the Hell with it . . . No, I was not aware that Mexicans were so lacking in patriotism. As to what part of Mexico Trump may covet, are you aware how often he’s used the phrase “take the oil”? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788/60 "2017-02-04T02:15:07Z")
P.S. to alphaboi867: I know you weren’t serious and are anti-Trump. The problem is that he said so many times that Mexico will pay for the wall. And he’s going to keep on being reminded of the promise, and want to keep it. Ideally (given the alternatives), he’ll tax Mexican imports and say that Americans paying the tax is really taking it from Mexico. But even for a prevaricator like Trump, this would be a stretch. Also, any tax or tariff scheme is liable to be ruled against by an international tribunal. So the only practical way to get Mexico to pay for the war is for him to use his powers are military commander in chief. He’d have to get more of a pretext for war than he has now, but he probably can gin one up. War with Mexico could be the biggest danger of a Trump presidency. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-threatens-to-send-troops-to-mexico/778788.md?page=4)