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'Not Welcome Here': No Love for Trump on Mexico City Streets

On the streets of the capital, some were surprised that President Peña Nieto would have invited Trump to Mexico in the first place.
Image: Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the visit of Donald Trump in Mexico City
Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the visit of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, at the Angel of Independence monument in Mexico City, Mexico, Aug. 31.TOMAS BRAVO / Reuters

MEXICO CITY — As presidential hopeful Donald Trump wrapped his visit with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Wednesday, many in the streets of Mexico City didn't seem sad to see him go.

Two young women in uniform said they take issue with how Trump has characterized Mexicans and with his proposal to build a wall on the country's border with the United States.

"Because the wall is poorly planned," said Alejandra Davila Franco of her main reason to dislike Trump. "Because he doesn't like Mexicans, because he wants to send the immigrants back."

Her colleague, Yavira, chimed in: "He wants to build the wall, make it taller, so that us Mexicans don't go to the U.S. anymore. So does he think we're going to applaud that here?"

"These are bad ideas for the world," Davila Franco continued. "I thought Hitler had already died."

The wall and the Trump campaign promise to have Mexico pay for its construction have been contentious issues south of the border. After his private meeting with Peña Nieto, Trump told reporters at a joint press conference that they hadn't discussed the payment issue. But the president's office said he made it clear Mexico would not be footing the bill.

On the streets of the capital meanwhile, many were surprised that Peña Nieto would have invited Trump to Mexico in the first place.

Image: Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the visit of Donald Trump in Mexico City
Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the visit of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, at the Angel of Independence monument in Mexico City, Mexico, Aug. 31.TOMAS BRAVO / Reuters

"First of all, President Enrique Peña Nieto shouldn't have [sent out] the invitation," said Elizabeth Melendez, who lived in Atlanta for 11 years. "[Trump]'s categorized us as criminals, as rapists...he's not really welcome here."

"It makes me sad, the way he speaks about Mexicans," said Maria Lopez, who added that she supports legal immigration and that most Mexicans travel to the U.S. looking for work.

Marco Anton, who was browsing magazines at a newsstand, said he welcomed Trump's visit because he welcomed a dialogue between his country's president and the potential future leader of the United States.

"Speaking, we can understand each other," he said.

But when asked about Trump's wall proposal, Anton added: "I don't think it's necessary."

Becky Bratu reported from New York City