WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama fiercely rejected Donald Trump’s depiction of an America in crisis on Friday, arguing that violent crime and illegal immigration have plunged under his leadership to their lowest rates in decades.
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Asked by Fox News’ Kevin Corke for a reaction to Trump’s comments, Obama said that the GOP nominee’s fear-mongering claims “just don’t jive (sic) with the facts”.
One day after Donald Trump painted a perilous portrait of the country during his lengthy speech at the Republican National Convention, Obama fired back by reassuring Americans that we’re not on the “verge of collapse”.
A June poll by agency GEA-ISA in Mexico found that 56 percent of respondents thought Clinton would be positive for the U.S.-Mexico relationship, while just six percent thought the same of Trump. Former Obama Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to become the Democratic nominee for president when her party convenes next week in Philadelphia. Pena Nieto avoided questions about the wall but has previously said that Mexico will not pay for the wall Trump proposes.
Still, Obama sought to paint a contrast between Trump’s picture of rising crime and uncontrolled borders and the brighter reality he sees.
“The problems we face now – poverty and violence at home, war and destruction overseas – will last only as long as we continue relying on the same politicians who created them”, Trump said.
He said the next USA president will find in Mexico and its government a constructive attitude toward any proposals and good faith in strengthening relations.
Trump has infuriated Mexicans by saying “rapists” and drug dealers are coming into the United States and by vowing to make the southern neighbour pay for a huge border wall.
Peña Nieto has compared Trump to fascist dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
“We are going to respect the decision of the American people”, he said.
The two men also endorsed the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that both countries have signed on to, saying it would make the relationship between their countries even stronger. The New York businessman also says Mexico migrants undercut USA wages by taking American jobs.
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“Undoubtedly, for Mexico, it is very important for the United States to do well and for the United States to have a strong economy”.
