Donald Trump flew to Mexico just before a highly anticipated immigration speech in Arizona tonight, and met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.
After the meeting, Trump says the two men discussed a wall that the U.S. GOP presidential nominee has promised to build along the US/Mexico border. Trump says they did not discuss his often repeated demand that Mexico will pay for it. The Mexican president responded, and effectively said that Trump's version of events was not true.
"Who pays for the wall? We didn't discuss," Trump replied when asked by a reporter during a news conference following his meeting with Peña Nieto in Mexico City. "We did discuss the wall. We didn't discuss payment of the wall. That'll be for a later date."
Peña Nieto tweeted a response.
Al inicio de la conversación con Donald Trump dejé claro que México no pagará por el muro.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) August 31, 2016
"At the start of the conversation with Donald Trump, I made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall," Peña Nieto tweeted after the Wednesday meeting.
He then tweeted that the conversation moved on to other topics.
A partir de ahí, la conversación abordó otros temas, y se desarrolló de manera respetuosa.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) August 31, 2016
The Trump campaign later said the discussion "was not a negotiation, and that would have been inappropriate." It continued, "It is unsurprising that they hold two different views on this issue, and we look forward to continuing the conversation."
The two men met and spoke at Los Pinos (The Pines), the Mexican president's official residence and office. The Trump campaign announced the visit late Tuesday evening — Peña Nieto had earlier extended an invitation to both presidential candidates. Trump is traveling back to the U.S. Wednesday night to give a speech on immigration in Phoenix.
Trump's position on immigration has waffled in recent days. At one point he appeared to back away from his previous support of mass deportations for the people in the U.S. illegally. He has since sought to clarify his immigration stance, and this latest push on immigration is part of that effort.
He remains deeply unpopular with Hispanic voters. His visit to Mexico was also widely opposed by the public there. There were some protests in regards to Trump's visit.
Two of Trump's closest advisers, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, joined Trump in Mexico.
So it's clear right now from both sides that EPN told Trump at the start of the meeting that Mexico wasn't paying and Trump didn't respond
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 1, 2016
Trump's visit, and Peña Nieto's failure to hold Trump accountable for his racist comments about Mexican people, were widely protested in Mexico.
Even more: Mexican pres. saying he strongly expressed to Trump, no paying for the wall. "Position non-negotiable." https://t.co/ZIMzXaQGcm
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 1, 2016
Trump surrogate just now: We left the press behind because we didn't want a photo op
Trump surrogate this afternoon pic.twitter.com/kLCBxF152D
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) September 1, 2016
Pushback from Mexico: In mtg, President was strong that Mexico does not pay for the wall. Position not negotiable. https://t.co/jG5boFsiCg
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 1, 2016
My story: Trump visit to Mexico was result of weeks of work: Sources https://t.co/buIiWYXGBH via @nbcnews
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 1, 2016