Of the three morning shows on Thursday, it was CBS that defaulted to the automatic assumption that Donald Trump was lying about a discussion with Mexico’s President. ABC and NBC presented the debate over whether the businessman brought up the wall with Enrique Pena Nieto as an open question. On CBS This Morning, however, Major Garrett flatly declared, “Trump misled reporters, however, by saying Mexican financing of a border wall did not come up.”
Garrett added, “In fact, the topic did come up. Pena Nieto said afterward he told Trump directly at the beginning of the meeting Mexico would never pay for the wall.” In comparison, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie on Today wondered, “Who’s telling the truth? Donald Trump meets with the president of Mexico.”
She then noted that “the Mexican president says it not only came up, he told Trump Mexico isn't paying for any wall.” Guthrie later referred to “conflicting reports” on whether payment for Trump’s border wall was discussed.
On ABC’s Good Morning America, Jon Karl offered some skepticism absent in Garrett’s report:
KARL: After their meeting and after Trump left Mexico, Mexico's president came out and said that he told Donald Trump directly that Mexico will not pay for the wall. But, George, I asked Mexico's president about that at their joint press conference. He said nothing and he also didn't disagree with Trump when Trump standing next to him said that the issue did not come up in their meeting.
All three networks used tough language for Trump’s evening speech. CBS This Morning’s Josh Elliott noted, “The hard line speech followed a much more subdued meeting with Mexico's president earlier in the day.” GMA’s Karl echoed, “After sounding diplomatic here in Mexico, he went on to present as hard a line on the issue as he ever has.” On Today, Hallie Jackson repeated, “Hillary Clinton calling it Trump's darkest speech yet.”
A transcript of the CBS This Morning segment is below:
CBS TM
9/1/16
7am briefNORAH O’DONNELL: Donald Trump and the president of Mexico contradict each other on who will pay for a border wall. The Republican nominee later doubled down on his hardline stance on deportation.
7:03:26 to 7:06:29
3 minutes and 3 secondsCBS GRAPHIC: Trump Doubles Down: Candidate Promises Wall and Deportations in Speech
O’DONNELL: Donald Trump reset his tough stance on immigration last night going back to where he started. The Republican presidential nominee declared he will enforce all immigration laws and build a wall along the border with Mexico.
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JOSH ELLIOTT: The hard line speech followed a much more subdued meeting with Mexico's president earlier in the day. Trump praised Mexico's cooperation but the two men had different stories about the wall in question and specifically who will pay for it. Major Garrett is in Phoenix where he covered Trump's immigration speech last night. Major, good morning to you.
MAJOR GARRETT: Good morning. Two Donald Trump's on display yesterday. The polite deferential diplomat in Mexico City and then hours later here in Phoenix the hot-tempered, uncompromising advocate of border walls and mass deportation that Trump supporters have come to love and, in this context, demand. And in the process of delivering his speech, Trump ended a brief public flirtation with a softer immigration policy.
DONALD TRUMP: Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation.
GARRETT: In Phoenix, Donald Trump promised mass deportations, but did not explain how he would do it.
TRUMP: People will know that you can't just smuggle in, hunker down, and wait to be legalized.
GARRETT: Undocumented immigrants must return to their home country and apply for re-entry, Trump said, vowing to subject new immigrants to ideological tests.
TRUMP: It's our right as a sovereign nation to choose immigrants who they by are the likely to thrive and flourish and love us.
GARRETT: Trump's ten-point plan included tripling the number of immigration agents for round up undocumented criminals, withholding federal tax dollars from sanctuary cities and a biometric registery to halt visa overstays.
TRUMP: Are you ready?
GARRETT: Trump's number one point was his most rehearsed.
TRUMP: We will build a great wall along the southern border. And Mexico will pay for the wall. They don't know it yet, but they are going to pay for it.
GARRETT: This time, though, Trump added a new diplomatic wrinkle.
TRUMP: Mexico will work with us. I absolutely believe it and especially after meeting with their wonderful, wonderful president.
GARRETT: In Mexico City, Trump then met with Mexican President Enrique Pena Neito and traded campaign bombast with a hushed tone of cooperation.
TRUMP: We all share a common interest in keeping our hemisphere safe.
GARRETT: Trump misled reporters, however, by saying Mexican financing of a border wall did not come up.
TRUMP: We did discuss the wall. We didn't discuss payment of the wall. That will be for a later date.
GARRETT: In fact, the topic did come up. Pena Nieto said afterward he told Trump directly at the beginning of the meeting Mexico would never pay for the wall. Trump aides later grudgingly admitted differences of opinion, something, DeMarco, Trump simply did not want to recognize in front of the Mexican president.
