It looks like Trump just pulled off a successful trip to Mexico. Here’s what we know.
Donald Trump seems to have pulled it off.
Trump, who has repeatedly called Mexico an "enemy" of the United States, blamed the Mexican government for sending "rapists" and "criminals" over the border, and called for a physical border wall (that he says Mexico will pay for), left his visit with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto calling him "a friend."
Trump gave an intentionally scripted speech in Mexico City Wednesday evening after having what he called "honest" and "open" talks with the Mexican president — it was Trump’s first official visit with a head of state as a presidential nominee.
From Trump’s remarks, and what we know about the meeting, here are six takeaways from Trump’s visit:
1) Trump said he and Nieto would work at "ending illegal immigration."
"This is a humanitarian disaster. The dangerous treks, the abuse by gangs and cartels, and the extreme physical dangers, and it must be solved. It must be solved quickly. Not fair to the people anywhere worldwide, you can truly say, but certainly not fair to the people of Mexico or the people of the United States," Trump said.
During his own remarks, Nieto pointed out that undocumented migrants into the US have been on a steady decline, even reaching a net negative.
2) Trump asserted the United States’ "sovereign right" to have a secure border, seemingly hinting at his wall proposal.
"We recognize and respect the right of either country to build a physical barrier or wall on any of its borders to stop the illegal movement of people, drugs, and weapons. Cooperation toward achieving this shared objective, and it will be shared, of safety for all citizens, is paramount to both the United States and to Mexico," Trump said.
3) Trump indicated that the two also discussed the upmost need to "dismantle drug cartels" and end the illegal movement of arms and drugs onto US soil.
4) Trump seemingly softened his previous claims that the United States would potentially withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement if not renegotiated, and instead stated that the United States and Mexico needed to work to "improve" NAFTA.
"NAFTA is a 22-year-old agreement that must be updated to reflect the realities of today. There are many improvements that could be made that would make both Mexico and the United States stronger and keep industry in our hemisphere," Trump said.
5) Trump invoked the importance of the Western Hemisphere multiple times, underscoring his last point to "keep manufacturing wealth in our hemisphere."
"When jobs leave Mexico, the US, or Central America and go overseas, it increases poverty and pressure on social services, as well as pressures on cross-border migration — tremendous pressure," Trump said. "A strong, prosperous, and vibrant Mexico is in the best interests of the United States, and will keep and help keep for a long, long period of time America together."
6) Trump ended his recap of the meeting by insisting Nieto was a "friend."
"Both of our countries will work together for mutual good, and most importantly, for the mutual good of our people," Trump concluded his remarks. "Mr. President, I want to thank you. It's been a tremendous honor. And I call you a friend."
During questions from reporters, Trump noted that the two did not converse over the details of payment of the wall Trump has long promised he’d build. This summer, Nieto said there was "no way" Mexico would pay for the wall. Nonetheless, Trump’s campaign has remained adamant about the claim.
The brief meeting precedes a Trump campaign rally in Arizona Wednesday night where he is expected to more clearly lay out his immigration policies, after a week of reports indicating Trump is considering walking back some of his more touted ideas, like mass deportation and wall-building.