President Trump is once again disputing reporting in the Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post, claiming that its story about his decision to give Mexico one year to stop the flow of drugs and crimes into the US "purposely got it wrong."
In its story about Trump's decision to back away from a threat to immediately close the southern border, WaPo reported that Trump had praised the Mexican government for stepping up its efforts to curb illegal migration, despite the fact Mexican authorities "have not altered their enforcement policies."
Later in the afternoon, ahead of a trade meeting with Chinese officials, Trump praised Mexico for “doing a very good job in the last three or four days since we talked about closing the border,” even though Mexican authorities have said they have not altered their enforcement policies.
Trump disputed this, instead claiming that "Mexico, for the first time in decades, is meaningfully apprehending illegals at THEIR Southern Border, before the long march up to the U.S. This is great and the way it should be." And if Mexico backslides, Trump said he wouldn't hesitate to slap a 25% tariff on its auto imports as punishment.
The Crazed and Dishonest Washington Post again purposely got it wrong. Mexico, for the first time in decades, is meaningfully apprehending illegals at THEIR Southern Border, before the long march up to the U.S. This is great and the way it should be. The big flow will stop.......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019
....However, if for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesn’t work, which it will, I will close the Border.......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019
These tariffs would supersede USMCA, the sweeping "Nafta 2.0" trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada that has yet to be ratified by Congress. Similarly, Trump said he's looking into imposing a "penalty" for the $500 billion in illegal drugs smuggled into the US every year from Mexico.
....This will supersede USMCA. Likewise I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border. Over 100,00 Americans die each year, sooo many families destroyed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019
Trump concluded the string of tweets by announcing that he was about to leave for the southern border to show off a section of the wall that is under construction.
Heading to the Southern Border to show a section of the new Wall being built! Leaving now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019