With the deceptive use of a video, President Donald Trump on Thursday heartily thanked his White House predecessor for ‘supporting’ his policy at the Mexican border. Barack Obama has offered no such support; only criticism.
Trump also denied that he ever expected Mexico to make a direct payment for his border wall, despite a call in a campaign policy paper for a “one-time payment” from Mexico of $5 billion to $10 billion, with options for Mexico to contribute in alternative ways. Mexico is refusing to contribute at all.
A look at Trump’s statements Thursday as he traveled to Texas to make his case for what he calls a security and humanitarian crisis, a possible precursor to declaring a national emergency at the border:
TRUMP: “President Obama, thank you for your great support — I have been saying this all along!” — tweet, accompanied by video of Obama speaking as president in 2014.
President Obama, thank you for your great support – I have been saying this all along! pic.twitter.com/L506g9Aq4z
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019
TRUMP: “Obama used to call it a crisis at the border, too.” — remarks before departing the White House for Texas.
Obama was asking Congress to approve an emergency appropriation to deal with a surge of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children and youth, mostly from Central American, trying to cross the border from Mexico.
“We now have an actual humanitarian crisis on the border,” Obama said at the time, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden. He was referring specifically to the surge of minors that year.
TRUMP, on Mexico paying for the wall: “I never meant they’re going to write out a check.” — remarks before departure to Texas.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: ‘When during the campaign I would say Mexico is going to pay for it. Obviously I never said this and I never meant they are going to write out a check….” pic.twitter.com/6q1L76jG8x
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 10, 2019
TRUMP: “Mexico is paying for the wall indirectly. And when I said Mexico will pay for the wall, in front of thousands and thousands of people, obviously they’re not going to write a check.” — remarks before departure.
TRUMP: “They’re paying for the wall in a great trade deal.” — remarks in Texas.
THE FACTS: Actually, a Trump campaign policy paper envisaged an explicit payment from Mexico: “It’s an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5-10 billion,” the paper said.
The plan also outlined various ways for Trump to compel Mexico to pay for the wall, such as by Washington cutting off billions of dollars in remittances sent back to Mexico by immigrants living in the U.S., or by recouping the money through trade tariffs or higher visa fees. None of that has happened.
Instead, Trump is arguing that the updated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico will pay for the wall because of economic benefits he predicts will come from the deal. Nothing in the trade agreement would cover or refund the construction cost or require a payment from Mexico. Instead, he is assuming a wide variety of economic benefits will come from the agreement that can’t be quantified or counted on. For example, he has said the deal will dissuade some U.S. companies from moving operations to Mexico and he credits that possibility as a payment by Mexico.
The agreement preserves the existing liberalized environment of low or no tariffs among the U.S., Mexico and Canada, with certain improvements for each country. The deal has yet to be ratified in any member country and there is no assurance it will win legislative approval.
Although his campaign left open the possibility that Mexico might somehow contribute to the cost indirectly, Trump roused his crowds with the straight-ahead promise: “I will have Mexico pay for that wall.”
Again and again at his rallies, Trump asked his crowds dramatically who would pay for the wall.
“Mexico,” they responded.
“Who?” he’s asked again.
“Mexico,” they roared.
Now he is saying his words were not meant to be taken literally.
Why do we need border security? This is why. These are the facts. #SecureOurBorder pic.twitter.com/dMpYb3p4Wy
— Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) January 10, 2019
(AP)
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8 Responses
Why must he continually lie? Why must people continue to believe him after evidence to the contrary is presented?
Drumpf is a pathological liar. The pathetic thing is that his supporters will actually believe him and defend his lies. He creates an alternate reality with alternative facts and his minions of followers choose to reside in his make believe world. Everyone heard Trump promise that Mexico will pay. It was clearly stated on his website. Yet he brazenly lies and knows that he will continue to get away with it.
If Canada is part of the trade deal along with Mexico does that mean that Canada as well as Mexico are paying for the wall? Or is Canada paying for a wall on our northern border? During his campaign and post campaign rallies Trump made it clear that Mexico was going to “pay” for the wall. “Pay” means pay with money. I can’t make a fantastic trade deal with Yeshiva World to pay for my bill at the Kollel Store, can I?
What a complete and utter disgrace, this outlandish liar!! The presidency has been reduced to a sewer by this degenerate adulterer.
Trump talks too much…that’s (one) of his problems. EVERYONE knew that Mexico won’t pay for the wall, there was no reason to say that.
There’s a problem here. When the CEO/owner of a company (or a television star) says something, all the employees say, “Yes, sir, that’s right sir. Whatever you say, sir.” The alternative, of course, is getting fired. If the company goes bankrupt (as so many of Trump’s business ventures have), there’s no one around to say “I told you so,” anyway. Mr. Trump is conducting the White House the way he managed Trump Casinos – my way or the highway. This is the first time in his life anybody has called him out about contradicting himself, and his reaction is to yell, “Fake News!” It isn’t so much that he deliberately lies, as that he doesn’t grasp that there’s an objective reality “out there” that won’t change just because he says so. Add to that the effects of at least one probably stroke, and we are in national trouble.
what a filthy liar of a president you Americans have… we’ve all seen the videos, listened to the debates, they went viral, and yet he has the audacity to openly deny it all
That car will soon be targeted for booting and tow since he owes $1100 in tickets. Since most are in the area were this incident took place it will be easy to find.