On June 23, in one of his public comments, President Donald J. Trump was bragging about the beauty of his fortress-like wall at the Mexican border. For the 56th occasion in the past few months, he thanked Mexico and its president in particular, for keeping the Central-American migrants trying to reach the United States, away down at Mexico’s southern border. And out of the clear blue sky, he mentioned his hope to meet in person Mexico’s President López Obrador sometime soon in Washington,
at the White House.
The Mexican government responded the same day that “as of now, no meeting of the two Presidents was scheduled”, but suggested that if they included the Canadian Prime Minister, to celebrate the beginning of the new commercial treaty that substitutes 26-year-old NAFTA on July 1st., maybe it could happen.
A day later, in a surprising statement, López Obrador said that regardless of whether or not Mr. Trudeau goes, he will go to Washington to thank Trump for his support during the pandemic. This despite multiple voices advising otherwise, arguing that Trump only wants to use López Obrador to win the favor of Hispanics during the election.
Mexican President López Obrador flew commercial on coach with one-stop to make a statement about the austerity of his administration. He was received the next day at the White House and met three times with U.S. President Donald Trump, first meeting by themselves, second with their staff, and at dinner with prominent businessmen from both countries.
There were no important announcements, in the rose garden both read nice messages to each other expressing mutual gratitude and friendship, no questions from the press, then signed a document regarding the commercial treaty between the two countries and Canada. The U.S. media barely reported the event, while the Mexican columnists concluded that the main purpose of the visit, was to give a badly needed uplift to Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign with the Hispanic community, particularly the one from Mexican origin, without regard for the consequences in case Mr. Trump is not re-elected.