Trump Says He Had ‘Friendly' Call With Mexican President

Trump hasn't put out a concrete plan describing how the U.S. would fund the wall, outside of saying he would make Mexico foot the bill

President Donald Trump says he had a "friendly call" with the Mexican president on Friday.

At a news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Trump confirmed he had an hourlong call with President Enrique Pena Nieto. The call came a day after the Mexican leader cancelled a visit to Washington after Trump moved forward on building a border wall.

Trump reiterated his stance that the U.S.-Mexico border is porous and drugs are making their way into the U.S.

He also vowed to renegotiate American trade deals with Mexico.

Later Friday, the White House said Trump and Nieto agreed to work out differences on a border wall "as part of a comprehensive discussion" on their bilateral relationship.

In a statement following the call, the White House said the leaders recognized their "clear and very public differences" on the issue of who will pay for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The two leaders were supposed to meet in Washington next week, but the Mexican president announced Thursday that he was scrapping the visit.

Also Friday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra told MSNBC he will find a way to stop the wall from being built. 

Earlier in the day, former Mexican President Vicente Fox said Mexico is ready to take on Trump's proposal to impose a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for the border wall.

"Trump has brought back a very strong Mexican spirit and we’re ready for the trade war, and we’re ready, of course, for not paying (for) that wall," Fox said Friday in an interview on NBC's "Today" show. 

Trump hasn't put out a concrete plan describing how the U.S. would fund the wall, outside of saying he would make Mexico pick up the bill. On Thursday, his press secretary floated the idea of using a 20 percent import tax to pay for construction, but then later pulled back and said the tax was only one of numerous ideas the administration was considering.

Trump tweeted shortly after Fox's interviewing, saying, "Mexico has taken advantage of the U.S. for long enough. Massive trade deficits & little help on the very weak border must change, NOW!"

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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