Trump Backs Down On Threat To Close Mexican Border

The Washington Post reports:

President Trump on Thursday backed down from his threat to close the southern border immediately, telling reporters at the White House that he is giving Mexico a “one-year warning” before taking action.

Trump had said he would close the border or at least large sections of it, this week if Mexico does not halt illegal immigration into the United States.

But in Thursday’s exchange with reporters, Trump shifted gears, saying that if Mexico does not make progress on stemming the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States within the next year, he will impose tariffs on cars and close the border.

Trump says he plans to either close the Mexican border or place tariffs, calls the U.S. immigration court system “stupid” https://t.co/Y7Gj8x18LG pic.twitter.com/xeMlBWyzvJ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 4, 2019

“We’re going to give [Mexico] a 1-year warning. And if the drugs don’t stop (or largely stop), we’re going to put tariffs on Mexico,” Trump said, calling it an incentive for Mexico to address drug trafficking and migration.

“If that doesn’t stop the drugs — we close the border” pic.twitter.com/c57qg84aDi

— POLITICO (@politico) April 4, 2019