Mexico’s outgoing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, referred to former U.S. president Donald Trump as a “friend” and praised his intelligence and vision. López Obrador stated that he planned to write a letter to Trump warning him against closing the border or blaming migrants for drug trafficking into the United States. Mexicans were offended when Trump, as a candidate in 2015, characterized immigrants as criminals, drug dealers, and rapists. In 2019, Trump threatened to close the border unless Mexico stopped migrants from crossing, which López Obrador argued would be detrimental to both countries’ intertwined economies.
López Obrador planned to refute the claim that migrants bring drugs into the U.S., stating that closing the border would not solve any issues and would be unfeasible. He highlighted the economic impact of a border closure on U.S. automakers and manufacturers who rely on cross-border trade for their operations. Additionally, López Obrador addressed concerns in the U.S. about the outsourcing of auto production to Mexico, arguing that bringing production back to the U.S. would significantly increase automobile prices for consumers.
Despite disagreements and Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, López Obrador and Trump had a relatively friendly relationship between 2018 and 2020. López Obrador cooperated with the U.S. in deterring third-country migrants from crossing Mexico to the U.S. border using the National Guard. This cooperation continued under the current U.S. administration.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com