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Trump heads south of the border

August 31, 2016

Donald Trump is due to make a quick trip to Mexico to meet with the country's president. Remarks by Trump about Mexicans during his campaign riled many of the United States' southern neighbors.

https://p.dw.com/p/1JsnS
USA Präsidentschaftswahlkampf Donald Trump
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/S. Helber

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has announced plans to travel to Mexico on Wednesday for a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. The trip comes ahead of a highly anticipated speech on Trump's proposals to on illegal immigration, which is scheduled for later on Wednesday in the US border state of Arizona.

"I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow," Trump said in a tweet.

Pena Nieto had extended an invitation for a meeting to both US presidential candidates. Trump's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, has so far not responded.

Trump has vowed to build a wall on the US-Mexico border in a bid to stop irregular migration from Mexico. He also promised to have Mexico pay for it. Pena Nieto has previously said that was not even a remote option. Trump has also referred to illegal immigrants crossing the border as rapists. His comments drew widespread condemnation in Mexico.

In June, during a news conference with US President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Nieto warned of the dangers of populism. He likened Trump to infamous dictators.

"Hitler, Mussolini, we all know the result," Pena said when asked about the comparison. "It was only a call for reflection and for recognition, so that we bear in mind what we have achieved and the great deal still to achieve."

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