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Former Mexican President Savages Trump Over Plan To Build Wall

Former Mexican President Savages Trump Over Plan To Build Wall

Who's going to build it?

James Dawson

James Dawson

The former Mexican president Vicente Fox has attacked Donald Trump's plans for a border wall on Twitter.

Fox has repeatedly said he's "not paying for that fucking wall" and now he has called it an "ego monument".

Building a wall along the 1,900 mile US-Mexican border was a major policy in Trump's bid for the presidency. Many commentators felt he would not make good on the pledge once he took office, but it appears its construction will go ahead, with Trump saying it will cost $10 billion (£8.2 billion) and will be paid for by the Mexican government.

But in a tweet published last night, the former Mexican president hit-back, writing: "@ realDonaldTrump's ego monument real cost is around 25 billion USD.

Credit: Twitter

"I ask you, America, what would you prefer instead of that # FuckingWall?"

He then added a poll that included four options that included improving healthcare, affordable education, supporting agriculture and modernising infrastructure.

President Trump has said the wall would be 35 to 50 feet high, and be intended to stop the flow of illegal migrants from Mexico.

Current Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has been adamant that Mexico will not foot the bill. On Thursday, he cancelled a meeting he was due to have with Trump.

Peña Nieto tweeted on Thursday, "This morning we have informed the White House that I will not attend the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with the @POTUS."

And the day before, he addressed the nation to slam Trump's plans.

He said: "I regret and disapprove of the decision by the United States to continue with the construction of the wall, which has for years, far from uniting us, divided us.

Trump saying he will build the wall during the presidential debates. Credit: CNN

"Mexico does not believe in walls. I have said time and time again, Mexico will not pay for any wall."

Despite Mexico's rejection of Trump's plans, the billionaire says US taxpayers will fund the up-front costs.

"We'll be reimbursed at a later date from whatever transaction we make from Mexico," Trump told ABC.

"I'm just telling you there will be a payment. It will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form.

"What I'm doing is good for the United States. It's also going to be good for Mexico. We want to have a very stable, very solid Mexico."

In his first speech to the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, Trump added: "A nation without borders is not a nation. Beginning today, the USA gets back control of its borders - gets back its borders."

Credit: Twitter

The President also claimed: "Our relationship with Mexico is going to get better."

But his sentiments were rejected by Pena Nieto, he told his country: "As President of the Republic, I take full responsibility for defending and looking after the interests of Mexico and Mexicans.

"It is my duty to face these problems and these challenges. Based on the final report from Mexican officials who are in Washington right now, and previous consultation with representation from the Senate and the National Conference of Governors, decisions on the next steps to be taken will be made.

"Mexico offers and demands respect as a sovereign nation. Mexico offers its friendship to the people of the United States and its willingness to reach agreements with their government. Agreements which are favourable to Mexico and Mexicans."

Who Is Vicente Fox?

Fox pictured in 2013. Credit: PA Images

Vicente Fox is a businessman and politician who was president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006.A member of the centre-right National Action Party, his term in office marked the end of 71 years of uninterrupted rule by the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Since leaving office he has remained a public figure in Mexico and since 2016 has gained international notoriety for his criticisms of President Trump, using Twitter to directly challenge, and troll, the new US president.

In an interview in February 2016, Fox responded to Trump's proposal to build a wall at the border between the United States and Mexico at Mexico's expense.Declaring in English that Mexico is "not going to pay for that fucking wall. He should pay for it. He's got the money."

In the same interview Fox went on to call Trump a "crazy guy" and a "false prophet", and with his recent remark it looks like this feud isn't coming to an end any time soon...

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Mexico, Trump, Fox

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