Trump Fails To Look Mexicans in the Eyes
Published in El País
(Spain) on 1 September 2016
by Jan Martínez Ahrens (link to original)
Predictions have been fulfilled. With the same inexorability that has characterized the Trump phenomenon since its outset, the American business tycoon landed in Mexico, entered Los Pinos and did only what was expected, that is, whatever he pleased. Trump achieved his objectives not by reiterating harsh comments against the Mexicans, nor by defending these remarks. Instead, all that sufficed was a simple refusal to apologize to the people he had trampled over during his quest for power. Unfortunately for Mexico, this meant success for Trump. He took to the stand and, besides a few flimsy references to a “constructive” dialogue, he left without fixing the damage he had caused.
It’s not difficult to guess his motive. His whistle-stop trip to Mexico was nothing more than a means to expand his electoral contest – a quick meeting followed by a rushed speech intended to refine his impossible image as Head of State. Have voters taken this into consideration? It’s still too early to tell. However, one thing is certain – if there was any success to be had on this bitter Wednesday, Trump claimed it.
That’s one thing Trump is skilled at. With his surprising invitation, Peña Nieto handed Trump an unexpected opportunity, one that the Mexican president is now undoubtedly reflecting upon at Los Pinos. If the president intended to affirm his international image and defuse tension with Mexico’s political enemy number one, he was way off the mark. It was Trump who imposed, if only for a few minutes, his presidential image (to which he cannot lay claim in the first place), and it was Trump who, hours later in Arizona, once again undermined Peña Nieto, stating, “Mexico will pay for the wall, 100 percent. They don't know it yet, but they're going pay for the wall.”
The whole thing could have possibly been worse. Or it could have panned out differently. What’s certain, however, is that Trump resumed his campaign in Mexico without even looking the Mexicans in the eyes. According to the president, he escaped all responsibility, took the opportunity to further his own career and left the meeting’s rightful audience – the people humiliated by his insults – stranded outside the conference room. Mexico means nothing to him.
It’s not difficult to guess his motive. His whistle-stop trip to Mexico was nothing more than a means to expand his electoral contest – a quick meeting followed by a rushed speech intended to refine his impossible image as Head of State. Have voters taken this into consideration? It’s still too early to tell. However, one thing is certain – if there was any success to be had on this bitter Wednesday, Trump claimed it.
That’s one thing Trump is skilled at. With his surprising invitation, Peña Nieto handed Trump an unexpected opportunity, one that the Mexican president is now undoubtedly reflecting upon at Los Pinos. If the president intended to affirm his international image and defuse tension with Mexico’s political enemy number one, he was way off the mark. It was Trump who imposed, if only for a few minutes, his presidential image (to which he cannot lay claim in the first place), and it was Trump who, hours later in Arizona, once again undermined Peña Nieto, stating, “Mexico will pay for the wall, 100 percent. They don't know it yet, but they're going pay for the wall.”
The whole thing could have possibly been worse. Or it could have panned out differently. What’s certain, however, is that Trump resumed his campaign in Mexico without even looking the Mexicans in the eyes. According to the president, he escaped all responsibility, took the opportunity to further his own career and left the meeting’s rightful audience – the people humiliated by his insults – stranded outside the conference room. Mexico means nothing to him.
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