Trump to Mexico: Stop Ripping Us Off

Trump to Mexico: Stop Ripping Us Off | Victor Davis Hanson

For the first time, 60% of Americans have an “unfavorable” view of Mexico, according to a Pew Research Poll.

How do you view Mexico?

America’s southern neighbor has a $175 billion trade surplus with the United States, the second-largest surplus of any country. Last year, over $62 billion in remittances were sent from the U.S. to Mexico, according to BBVA Research.

Mexico is aware that it has been taking advantage of the United States, with impunity, for years.

President Donald Trump knows that America cannot sustain the current status quo much longer, argues @VDHanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”

“Mr. Obrador, the former president, said it was a beautiful thing that 40 million people—Mexicans—had come in illegally to the United States. Twelve million or more came in during Joe Biden's tenure. That was all done with the contrivance of Mexico.

“…Mexico looked at that open border as a win-win-win-win situation…

“Sixty-three billion dollars come to Mexico and that money comes largely from illegal aliens. But more importantly, it comes from people receiving state, local, and federal subsidies. So, you, the taxpayer—in terms of health subsidies, education subsidies, housing, food subsidies—are freeing up cash to send $63 billion back to Mexico.

“So, if President Sheinbaum was wise, she would negotiate with Donald Trump, get that trade surplus from $175 billion down to $30 or $40 billion, stop all of the fentanyl, help secure the border, look at the remittances, allow us to put a tax on 10% or 15%, and I think we would have cordial relations again.”