Trump To Meet With Mexican President Pena Nieto Before Immigration Speech

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto just hours before giving a major speech to clarify his position on immigration.

“I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow,’ Trump tweeted Aug. 30.

Both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton were invited to a private meeting with Pena for a dialog on “the bilateral relations between Mexico and the United States,” according to the official Twitter account for the Office of the President of Mexico. So far, it appears only Trump has accepted the invitation.

Trump’s meeting with Pena has raised some eyebrows because of the GOP nominee’s harsh words about Mexican immigrants and also his proposal to build a wall across the entire U.S.-Mexico border and “make Mexico pay for it.”

According to Trump’s campaign website, he would make Mexico pay for the wall by preventing people from sending remittances to Mexico unless they can prove lawful residence in the U.S., increasing tariffs, and limiting travel and business visas for Mexican citizens traveling to the U.S.

But Trump’s most talked-about statement about Mexicans came during his campaign announcement speech.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you,” he said in July, 2015, according to Real Clear Politics. “They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Pena has also made harsh statements about Trump, previously comparing the controversial billionaire to ruthless dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, reported NPR.

After the meeting with the Mexican president, Trump will travel to Arizona and give a speech on immigration.

“I will be making a major speech on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION on Wednesday in the GREAT State of Arizona. Big crowds, looking for a larger venue,” Trump tweeted Aug. 28.

Sources: Donald Trump/Twitter (2), Mexican Presidency/Twitter, Real Clear Politics, NPR / Photo credit: Chatham House/Flickr, Gage Skidmore/Flickr