In a new tweet, President Trump tried to excuse away why he hadn’t spoken to Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto until today, in the aftermath of the country’s deadly earthquake.
‘Spoke to President of Mexico to give condolences on terrible earthquake. Unable to reach for 3 days b/c of his cell phone reception at site,’ Trump wrote, tweeting today from Air Force One.
The 8.1 magnitude earthquake had struck the southern regions of Oaxaca and Chiapas in Mexico late last Thursday, which means the two leaders of the neighboring countries hadn’t spoken for nearly a week.
President Trump (right) used bad cell phone reception to explain why it had taken him nearly a week to offer condolences to Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto (left) in the aftermath of a horrific earthquake that left more than 90 Mexicans dead
President Trump was originally supposed to have a call with President Enrique Peña Nieto on Tuesday, according to White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto (center) is seen greeting President Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) at a concert during this summer’s G20 Summit in Germany
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto (left) offers his hand to President Donald Trump (right) during the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany in June
Southern parts of Mexican were ravaged by a large earthquake late last Thursday, which killed more than 90 Mexicans
The Mexican government rescinded an offer to help the United States with rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Harvey as the money is now needed at home
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked why Trump had yet to offer his condolences to the Mexican leader.
‘They actually have a call scheduled today,’ the press secretary replied. ‘It’s taking place, I believe, within this hour. And we’ll have a readout for you on that this afternoon.’
A call on Tuesday, for some, had already seemed too late.
A day before, Mexico had rescinded its offer to aid the United States in clean-up efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which ravaged Texas, a US border state.
Mexico said it needed those resources for its own people, as the country was recovering from a hurricane and now the earthquake.
Trump had never responded to Mexico’s offer, though Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had said he’d welcome the help.
The president has put both Mexico and Mexicans in his crosshairs since he began campaigning for president on June 16, 2015.
He famously knocked immigrants from Mexico who were illegally coming into the country in his first speech as a candidate at Trump Tower.
‘When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best … they’re sending people that have a lot of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us,’ newly-minded candidate Trump said.
‘They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crimes. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,’ Trump added.
His relations with Mexico haven’t terribly improved since then.
Trump continues to demand a border wall, even if Mexico, at first, won’t be who’s paying for it, that burden will go to the American taxpayer.
He’s had several awkward conversations with Peña Nieto since taking office in January.
In recent weeks he’s also called Mexico, along with Canada, ‘very difficult’ as the three countries have attempted to re-negotiate NAFTA.
Last week’s earthquake killed more than 90 Mexicans.