Pinned down by the press outside the White House, Donald Trump reached new depths in the category of denying things that he said over and over, not just on camera, but in front of thousands of people.
Trump, now: When during the campaign, I would say Mexico was going to pay for it … Obviously, I never said this, and I never meant they’re going to write out a check.
So all those chants of “Who’s going to pay for it? Mexico!” really meant that Americans would pay for it, or face a shutdown that threatens their national security and economy and provides Trump an excuse to declare a fake national emergency in order to seize power over the duly elected Congress. And then Americans will pay for it anyway, whether they liked it or not. Obviously.
Though, all the way back in the lost golden age of 2016, things did seem a bit different.
Trump, then: It’s an easy decision for Mexico. Make a one time payment of $5 — 10 billion dollars to ensure that $24 billion continues to flow into their country year after year. There are several ways to compel Mexico to pay for it …
To be fair, Trump’s first proposal on how to “make Mexico pay for it” wasn’t to tell them to get out their checkbook. It was to steal a little bit out of every payment that workers in the United States tried to wire to their families in Mexico—including workers in the U.S. who are American citizens. Because taking money from the poor is always Trump’s first go-to.
And really, the difference between stealing from some Americans, and stealing from them all to get his way … is it really that big a deal?