Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton declined an invitation from Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Monday after her rival Donald Trump’s botched visit caused a “diplomatic incident,” Reuters reports.
When asked by ABC News whether she would visit Mexico before the November election, Clinton simply responded “no” and did not elaborate. The Clinton campaign confirmed her decision shortly after.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto invited both candidates last month. Trump accepted the invitation, and met with Pena Nieto last Wednesday. The meeting appeared to be friendly, but it was later revealed that there were deep tensions between the two.
In a joint press conference with the Mexican president, Trump said the two did not discuss who would pay for the wall. Pena Nieto, who remained quiet on the issue during the conference, later tweeted that he made it quite clear Mexico would not be paying for the wall.
“He didn’t know how to even communicate effectively with a head of state. And I think that’s a pretty clear outcome from that trip,” Clinton said.
Donald Trump has been critical of Mexico, and claimed earlier in his campaign that the country sends its drug dealers and rapists to the United States. Trump has promised to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and has claimed that Mexico would pay for the wall’s construction.
