Trump trolled for his 'unexpected' Mexico visit

WASHINGTON: Mirth and bafflement trailed Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump as he headed out on a sudden day-trip on Wednesday to neighboring Mexico , a country he has repeatedly insulted and threatened for (in his view) undermining the United States.
The dramatic trip, which resulted in furore and protests in Mexico City, came ahead of a major immigration speech Trump has scheduled later in the day in the border state of Arizona – a hot-button issue in an overheated state.
Jokes and jibes , slights and slurs flew back and forth after Trump made a cryptic announcement on social media on Tuesday night, saying ''I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow.''
Political pundits were mystified by Trump’s decision given the kind of antagonism he has expressed and generated around Mexico. Many saw it as a high-wire act that could make or break his faltering, chaotic campaign.
Indeed, the Mexican President had invited both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, but he could have hardly expected the alacrity with which the Republican nominee snapped up the offer, considering he (Trump) has pledged in course of his campaign to build a wall between the two countries to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, besides deporting millions (many of them Mexicans) already in the US
In addition, Trump has also threatened to make Mexico pay for the wall , warned of scrapping trade deals that he feels favors Mexico at US expense, and in some of the most indecorous comments ever in an election campaign, referred to Mexicans as ''rapists,'' ''criminals,'' and ''drug-dealers.''
Small wonder that protest demonstrations were planned in Mexico City. Former President Vicente Fox , a political rival of Pena-Nieto, gave voice to the disquiet, saying Trump is not welcome. ''We don't like him. We don't want him. We reject his visit,'' Fox told CNN.
Prickly and petulant as every, Trump shot back, reminding Fox hat he (Fox) had also invited him (Trump) after apologizing for using the f-word some weeks ago.
''I'm not going to pay for that f****** wall! He should pay for it. He's got the money,'' Fox had raged earlier this year after Trump began claiming that he will force Mexico to pay for the proposed wall, a pledge that has become a central part of his election campaign.
In recent days, Trump has vacillated between his hardline immigration position that began with threats to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants in the US, to a softening of the stand to deport only criminal elements among them. But he has not wavered on the building the wall, which appears to have become something of an obsession with him (he has even referred to it as a 'big beautiful wall').
Political analysts reckon that he risks angering and alienating his white nativist constituency of he dilutes his position. But some of his advisors and financiers are said to be pressing him to reel back on his immigrations stance to attract more Latino and moderate voters. According to polls, nearly 80 per cent of Hispanic voters currently oppose him.
It’s hard to imagine though what he could do in Mexico to win both sides (nativists and the pro-immigration voters), although Trump’s penchant for the dramatic and the unexpected has everyone in thrall.
On Wednesday, the hashtag #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings was trending in the US, even as his rival Hillary Clinton taunted him by tweeting a list of Trump’s most egregious comments on Mexico.
Among #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings: ''It was tremendous. The people were throwing bricks at me in order to build the wall, just a wonderful welcome.''