USA-ELECTION/TRUMP-MEXICO California state senators speak out against Trump during Mexico City visit

Record ID: 146177

  • Title: USA-ELECTION/TRUMP-MEXICO California state senators speak out against Trump during Mexico City visit
  • Date: 27th July 2015
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JULY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) U.S. STATE SENATORS POSING FOR MEDIA DURING MEXICO CITY VISIT DEMOCRAT STATE SENATOR, KEVIN DE LEON, DURING NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF SENATORS POSING FOR MEDIA SENATORS SITTING DOWN FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR (DEMOCRAT), KEVIN DE LEON, SAYING: "Without a doubt he (Trump) is using the Mex
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9KPDX10KIGZE0K2RTT9424UOT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Democrats from California's state Senate were in Mexico City on Monday (July 27) where they denounced recent comments from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump describing Mexican migrants as drug-runners and rapists.
    Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon is leading a delegation of eight Democrats to improve government relations during the legislature's summer recess.
    The visit comes after Trump entered the 2016 election race with inflammatory comments, many of them directed at the United States' southern neighbour.
    Speaking in the Mexican capital, de Leon rejected Trump's comments and accused the Republican candidate of seeking short term political gain with his remarks.
    "Without a doubt he (Trump) is using the Mexican migrant as a scapegoat for economic problems so as to gain advantage amongst his competitors in the short term. Without a doubt I think and I'm sure my colleagues think the same that in the long term he (Trump) will lose in the electoral process. They're polarising comments, repugnant and we categorically reject the comments from this man, Donald Trump," he said.
    The trip follows California's Governor Jerry Brown's trade mission to Mexico last year and a reciprocal visit from Mexican leader Enrique Pena Nieto to boost economic ties.
    Another California state senator, Democrat Ben Hueso, also spoke out against Trump.
    "He (Trump) is insulting his own employees, he is insulting his clients and we as the Latin American community need to analyse and reflect on who we work for, who we support financially. I would like to see more people reject his policies," Hueso said.
    Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has severed a real estate development project with Trump and Spanish-language broadcaster Univision has announced it would not air the "Miss USA" pageant as a result of Trump's comments.
    According to California's Chamber of Commerce, Mexico was the U.S. state's top export market, topping $240 billion in 2014.
    Hueso added that California is keen to expand economic ties with an increasingly important Mexican economy.
    "There is a lot of economic exchange between California and Mexico. Mexico is the main economy for exports and this is why it is very important to send this message to Mexicans. California wants to work with Mexico and wants to build on this exchange," said Hueso.
    During the Mexico City visit the California senators are due to discuss poverty and climate change during talks with their Mexican counterparts.
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