At a White House news conference after meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Mr Obama mocked Mr Trump’s speech, which depicted America as under siege from illegal immigrants, Islamic State militants, and race-related violence.
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Wrapping up on the issue of Donald Trump and the Republican National Convention, Obama said that the arguments – true or false – have been made, and it is up to the American people to choose.
Just two minutes into the launch of his first official campaign speech in June 2015, Trump said Mexican immigrants “have lots of problems” and when they come to the USA “they’re bringing drugs”.
President Barack Obama, right, meets with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, left, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, July 22, 2016.
According to President Obama, Trump’s fear-mongering speech about crime and terrorism simply does not line up with the reality of the life in the United States today. “The one thing that I think is important to recognize is this idea that America is somehow on the verge of collapse – this vision of violence and chaos everywhere doesn’t really jive with the experience of most people”. “Some of the fears that were expressed throughout the week just don’t jibe with the facts”, he said, going on to cite statistics showing crime rates have fallen under his presidency. Trump has repeatedly said he would prevent illegal immigration to the U.S.by building a wall between the two countries, and force Mexico to pay for it.
“The Mexican government will be observing with great interest the electoral process”, he said, “But it will not give its opinion – it will not get involved”. “That is something I hope that all Americans pay attention to”.
Obama said he will let the USA public decide if the vision of Republicans or Democrats for the nation is more persuasive.
It was a change of tone from March, when Pena Nieto condemned Trump’s “strident tone” and compared his rhetoric to the rise of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
Economists say the economic recession of 2007-09 and the slow recovery since then is probably responsible for some of the decline in migration from Mexico and the rest of Latin America.
Last month, Obama blasted Trump’s “loose talk and sloppiness”, arguing that the candidate’s call to temporarily ban Muslims from coming to the US could lead to discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities.
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Nieto kept his response diplomatic, saying he respects both Trump and his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. “The United States values tremendously our enduring partnership with Mexico and our extraordinary ties of family and friendship with the Mexican people”, Obama said while standing beside Mexico’s president. “And we’re not going to be able to build a wall around that”.
