Here we go: Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto cancelled a meeting with US President Donald Trump over renewed tensions over Trump’s plan to a) build a wall and b) make Mexico pay for it.

“This morning we have informed the White House that I will not attend the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with the POTUS,” Peña Nieto tweeted.

“Mexico offers and demands respect, as the sovereign nation that we are … We reaffirm our friendship with the people of the United States and will try to reach agreements with the government on behalf of Mexicans … Mexico reiterates its willingness to work with the United States to achieve agreements in favour of both nations.”

It comes after Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to begin the process of erecting the highly divisive wall, which is estimated to cost between $12–$15 billion (AU$15.92–$19.89 billion).

Trump has repeatedly claimed he would make Mexico foot the bill, but shortly after the signing of said executive orders – which Trump also later declared in a press conference would “get the bad ones out” – Peña Nieto posted a video to Twitter reiterating his stance that Mexico would do no such thing.

“Mexico does not believe in walls. I’ve said time again: Mexico will not pay for any wall.”

He also said that 50 U.S. consulates will convert into “migrant rights defence centres”, and told Mexicans living in the States: “You’re not alone. The Mexican government will extend legal aid to give you the protections you require.”

Trump responded by goading his Mexican counterpart into cancelling, something Mexican media had reported yesterday he was thinking of doing anyway.


It’s now being reported that Trump is calling for a 20% tax on Mexican imports in order to cover the cost.


It also really, really needs to be pointed out that former Mexican president Vicente Fox Quesada is using his Twitter account almost solely to deliver ‘fuck you’ after ‘fuck you’ to Trump.


Although, if presidents (both current and former) continue to wage international relations via their Twitter accounts, could one of the many people they pay big dollars to manage said accounts teach them how to thread their bloody tweets? Cheers.

Photo: Getty / Chip Somodevilla.

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