Former Mexican President Vicente Fox on Friday said he would only accept Donald Trump’s invitation to lunch in New York City if the presumptive GOP presidential nominee apologized to the Mexican people.
He also said he would not pay for the wall Mr. Trump has vowed to build on the United State’s southern border, which he insists Mexico will pay for.
“Thank you for the invitation. I’m not paying for that wall,” Mr. Fox said on CNN’s “New Day” program.
Mr. Trump extended the lunch invite after Mr. Fox apologized earlier this month for his expletive-laden condemnation of the real estate tycoon rhetoric toward Mexico, including saying Mexican murderers and rapists were sneaking across the border.
“Now, he invited me for lunch. He sends me a message saying, ’Come and I invite you for lunch in New York,’ ” said Mr. Fox. “I will come if at first you apologize to Mexico, to Mexicans, to Mexican people.”
He said that Mr. Trump should also apologize to American workers “because you’re not telling them the truth.”
Mr. Trump rarely apologizes.
“Sounds like you don’t want to have lunch with Donald Trump,” said CNN host Chris Cuomo.
“Well, I can have it in San Cristobal at my place,” Mr. Fox replied, referring to his ranch in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato.
Mr. Fox, a frequent and outspoken critic of Mr. Trump, also shunned the billionaire businessman for speculating that terrorist downed an EgyptAir flight immediately after the plan crashed Thursday into the Mediterranean Sea.
“The guy that has a very short short fuse is him. Just look at his reaction yesterday about this horrible plane crash or bomb or whatever it was,” Mr. Fox said.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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