# Trump to visit Mexico's President today **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 31, 2016, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552 "2016-08-31T08:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/1 "2016-08-31T08:59:40Z")
And the plot gets thicker. > **[Trump To Meet With Mexican President Ahead Of Immigration Speech](https://www.npr.org/2016/08/30/492035385/trump-to-fly-to-mexico-to-meet-with-mexican-president-ahead-of-immigration-speec)** > > Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's office said he invited both Trump and Hillary Clinton to visit Mexico. Peña Nieto has been highly critical of Trump, likening him to both Mussolini and Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/2 "2016-08-31T10:55:15Z")
That’s crazy. Is Trump gonna sneak in the country all quiet like, or have a big welcoming parade? Is he going to Have the Mexican President come here instead? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/3 "2016-08-31T11:15:49Z")
Trump is to fly to Mexico City. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/4 "2016-08-31T11:22:02Z")
In a perfect world, they’d have a motorcade from the airport to the presidential palace and the crowd would line the streets and moon him as he passes. I hope he goes for the macho image of addressing the people directly, telling them that they’re rapists and drug dealers. What will happen will be that Trump will behave himself in Mexico, then later give his immigration speech in Arizona pledging to build that wall to keep those wetback rapists out. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/5 "2016-08-31T11:49:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Trump is to fly to Mexico City. Well, Damn. I’ve been wrong before, a lot of the time, but I see him finding a way to back out of this. Today, huh? OK, I’ll find out soon enough. What a strange situation when the idea of a Presidential candidate visiting our next door neighbors seems crazy to me. May I live in interesting times. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/6 "2016-08-31T12:57:20Z")
I am puzzled by this. 1. Why would Pena Nieto even want to do this? He’s the head of state of a large country, and Donald Trump is, as of now, nobody. I don’t see the political gain here. 2. Is this even appropriate? I don’t know what the history or protocol is, but it strikes me as being a little weird for a Presidential candidate to be conducting foreign policy before actually being elected, and it strikes me as a little weird for the President of a friendly nation to bypass diplomatic channels to talk to a candidate. I see nothing but benefit to TRUMP, though. This makes him Look Presidential \. Presidents visit foreign heads of state to make deals; he’s doing something inherently presidential. And since it’s a private meeting, he can come out of it claiming basically anything. When he’s done it’ll be “the greatest meeting, just great, President Neato is the best, great guy, we have the best relationship, he’s going to pay for the wall. It’ll be the best wall, and biggest wall, and President Nacho said he’d pay for it.” Of course afterwards President Pena Nieto will say “I most certainly said nothing of the kind” but that won’t get nearly as many headlines in the USA as Trump’s saying he did. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/7 "2016-08-31T12:59:19Z")
This is not the Debates, traditions that Trump would love to “back out of.” President Peña Nieto invited both candidates & Trump volunteered. The Mexican president has criticized Trump severely in the past. The local CBS news is big on weather & traffic, light on Serious News. They are covering _this_ story–using a clip of Trump’s “rapist” speech. One of the commentators said he’d _love_ to see the meeting. [From the _Washington Post_:](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-considers-last-minute-meeting-in-mexico-with-the-countrys-president/2016/08/30/5a694790-6f12-11e6-9705-23e51a2f424d_story.html) > [@](#): > > Early this week, representatives for Trump contacted the U.S. Embassy in Mexico about his intentions, according to a person in Mexico familiar with the communications between the two sides. > > Trump’s representatives were told privately by officials that it would be logistically difficult for Trump to visit. But the businessman’s proxies insisted that Trump would not delay his plans, the person said. > > Overseas visits by senior U.S. officials normally require weeks of intricate planning on both sides, as every movement and meeting is plotted. When more security is required, such trips become even more complicated. > > Security staffs traveling with the visitor are usually beefed up. While Mexico is not considered a hostile place, the crime level is high and Trump, should he appear in public, would require significant protection. > > The invitation — and particularly a visit — seems certain to cause a backlash in Mexico City, where Trump is widely disliked. Mexicans have bashed Trump piñatas, burned him in effigy during public street parties and staged plays about him as a comic villain. (Ms Clinton spoke with the President in 2014, stays in contact with his people & will visit later.) ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/8 "2016-08-31T12:59:36Z")
Trump will be Trump. By that I mean he will tell President Nieto what he wants to hear and he will tell the audience in Arizona (I’m assuming that they will mostly be Joe Arpaio supporters) what they want to hear. The two things he says will of course be very different. When asked about this difference he will say that the press “took him out of context” or that the “liberal media” is out to get him. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/9 "2016-08-31T13:17:18Z")
[Rob Reiner:](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-mexico-jokes-twitter_us_57c6717ee4b078581f101e59) “Clearly we’re not sending our best to Mexico. We’re sending liars. We’re sending narcissists. We’re sending sociopaths.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/10 "2016-08-31T13:20:15Z")
There is only one way that Trump can benefit and that is if Nieto agrees Mexico will pay for the wall. That’s what the entire appeal of Trump’s candidacy is on - the wall. And I don’t see that happening, **RickJay** , not if Nieto wishes to live another year, much less continue ruling. People in MX are not happy that Trump is coming and Nieto is going to be hard-pressed to show how tough he is. And if Obama isn’t working behind the scenes to impress upon Nieto that there is no American retaliation for anything he says or does, short of physical harm, to Donald J. Trump, I’ll eat my hat. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/11 "2016-08-31T13:27:03Z")
Will they serve him a taco salad for lunch so Trump can say “I love Hispanics!”? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/12 "2016-08-31T13:40:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 1. Is this even appropriate? I don’t know what the history or protocol is, but it strikes me as being a little weird for a Presidential candidate to be conducting foreign policy before actually being elected, and it strikes me as a little weird for the President of a friendly nation to bypass diplomatic channels to talk to a candidate. I think “foreign policy tours” are pretty common during campaigns. Romney did Britain, Israel and Poland, Obama did his European tour (complete with speech in Berlin), etc. It’s an easy way to increase your foreign policy bonafides and look presidential. Clinton supposedly won’t be doing much, if any, given that her foreign policy experience isn’t in question. It is a little unusual that Trump would be heading to _Mexico_ just because candidates tend to head to nations where they’re virtually guaranteed a warm reception. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/13 "2016-08-31T13:44:35Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > And I don’t see that happening, **RickJay** , not if Nieto wishes to live another year, much less continue ruling. People in MX are not happy that Trump is coming and Nieto is going to be hard-pressed to show how tough he is. Nieto does not have to agree to build the wall. Trump just has to say he did, and Trump’s supporters will believe that to be the case. Among Trump supporters, belief in The Greatest Wall is often fervent to the point of religion. I’ve posted before that many Trump supporters are literally counting on its construction as their next job. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/14 "2016-08-31T13:47:26Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > It is a little unusual that Trump would be heading to _Mexico_ just because candidates tend to head to nations where they’re virtually guaranteed a warm reception. Oh, I think he’ll get a warm reception, all right. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/15 "2016-08-31T13:49:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > It is a little unusual that Trump would be heading to _Mexico_ just because candidates tend to head to nations where they’re virtually guaranteed a warm reception. That would limit Trump to what–Russia? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/16 "2016-08-31T13:56:09Z")
Breaking NEWS! Mexico seizes Trump’s plane for unpaid wages to Mexican nationals! Okay,\* just my wishful thinking,\* but that would be so sweet. Please Mexico, please? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/17 "2016-08-31T13:57:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Nieto does not have to agree to build the wall. Trump just has to say he did, and Trump’s supporters will believe that to be the case. > > Among Trump supporters, belief in The Greatest Wall is often fervent to the point of religion. I’ve posted before that many Trump supporters are literally counting on its construction as their next job. Nieto has to tell his public about his meeting witb Trump, and the idea that he is going to leave the question of whether Mexico is paying for the wall up to _Mexican_ public debate is… suicidal on his part. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/18 "2016-08-31T14:10:08Z")
I really don’t see how this meeting is going to be beneficial to anybody involved. If the Donald pivots so much as a degree from the demand for a Mexican-built wall, his own people will crucify him. If Nieto says anything other than “Fuck off” to the Donald, _his_ ass is toast. Not seeing an upside for anybody, except maybe Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/19 "2016-08-31T14:14:57Z")
His name is Enrique, or you can call him by his family names: Peña Nieto. The first is his father’s family name, the second his mom’s. And now back to covering dear old Donald. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552/20 "2016-08-31T14:15:49Z")
If Trump plays it right (always a very iffy proposition) he will not mention the wall at all in the context of his meeting with Nieto. Rather, he will say some nice things about Nieto and about Mexico as a country and say that he hopes to continue to have great relations with our important ally Mexico. This way he gets to take some of the edge off his racist image at little cost. What’s in it for Nieto is that there is some possibility that Trump gets elected, and he wants to have a good relationship with him in the event that that happens. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-visit-mexicos-president-today/764552.md?page=2)