In speech to GOP lawmakers, Trump continues to insist Mexico will pay for wall
PHILADELPHIA — President Trump continued to insist in a speech Thursday that Mexico will pay to build a Southwest border wall, even as congressional leaders said they will seek to pass legislation to spend up to $15 billion of U.S. taxpayer money to fund the barrier.
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Thursday canceled a planned meeting with Trump for next week after Trump said there was no point for the Mexican leader to come if he was not willing to pick up the tab for the wall. Peña Nieto has vowed that his country will not pay for the wall, which Mexico opposes.
Trump, in a speech to congressional Republicans at a retreat in downtown Philadelphia, said he and the Mexican president "have agreed to cancel our planned meeting."
"Unless Mexico is going to treat the U.S. fairly, with respect, such a meeting would be fruitless," he said.
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Congress will consider up to $15 billion for border wall, GOP leaders say
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said earlier Thursday that they expect a request from the Trump administration soon for Congress to approve $12 billion to $15 billion in emergency funding by the end of September to build the wall. They would not say whether they will seek cuts in other government programs to offset the cost.
Trump vowed during his campaign that Mexico would pay for the wall. He is now saying that Mexico will reimburse the U.S. after American taxpayers put up the money first.
The controversial wall is just one piece of what Trump described in his speech as a new focus on putting America's interests first. Trump said it's time that America had a president who will fight for its citizens as hard as other leaders do for theirs.
He touted his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and his intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada.
"The world has taken advantage of us for many years," Trump said. "It's not going to happen any more."
On the domestic front, the president said his first priority would be to help Congress repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
"Obamacare is a disaster," he said, talking about rising premiums and insurers pulling out of the program. "If we did nothing for two years, the Democrats would come begging us to do something."
Trump noted that replacing Obamacare is putting Republicans at risk politically "because we're taking it off their (Democrats') platter."
"But we have no choice," he said. "We have to take care of the American people immediately."
Trump drew strong applause when he touted his executive order banning federal money for any international organizations that provide abortion services. However, he drew only scant applause when he talked about his plans to investigate what he has alleged was widespread voter fraud in last year's presidential election.
Republican congressional leaders have said they've seen no evidence of rampant fraud.
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"We also need to keep the ballot box safe from illegal voting," Trump told the lawmakers, urging them to "take a look" at who is registering. "We are going to defend the votes of the American citizen."
The president greeted the ballroom full of GOP lawmakers by saying, "Nice to win, do we agree? It's been awhile."
"Now we have to deliver," Trump said. "Enough talk, no action."
