President Trump threatens to send in troops to close US border with Mexico
Donald Trump has threatened to send the US military to close the border with Mexico in angry early-morning tweets.
Trump also vowed to stop aid to Central American countries if a large number of migrants – or as the president called it, an ‘onslaught’ – from Honduras is not stopped before they reach the US.
He even threatened that the migrant issue could undermine the recently re-worked trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada.
‘In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught — and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!’ he wrote in one tweet.
He added in another message: ‘The assault on our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border.’
….In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught – and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018
….The assault on our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border. All Democrats fault for weak laws!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018
His comments came as it was reported some 2,000 people had fled Honduras and were making their way north to try and get into the US.
The group has been dubbed the ‘march of the migrants’.
Those fleeing Honduras say they are doing so because of the chronic violence in the country.
One – Carolina Aguilar – told reporters at the weekend that gangs had killed her husband earlier this year and she was leaving the country with her two daughters.
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He said ‘many criminals’ were coming into the US from Central America.
Trump’s tweet messages may be about neighbouring countries but may be also destined for domestic audiences.
He also used the tweets to attack the Democrats.
He has urged the Republicans to make immigration a central issue of important Congressional elections which take place in the US next month.
The president famously proposed building a border wall when running for the presidency and has since threatened to shut down the government if he does not get his estimated $23 billion for the barrier.
