The Mexican government’s decision to appoint a new ambassador to the U.S. is a direct result of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Telemundo has reported.
In the report, the Spanish-language sister network to NBC repeatedly blamed Trump for an ‘anti-immigrant’ wave and climate in the U.S., once again irresponsibly equating the Republican presidential frontrunner’s campaign to halt illegal immigration with an indiscriminate animus against all Mexicans and all immigrants, both lawful and unlawful.
“In the middle of the anti-Mexican wave being lived in this country, Mexico has decided to change their ambassador in Washington,” said anchor María Celeste Arrarás in her introduction to the report by Telemundo’s Mexico City correspondent, Raúl Torres.
“He made the government of Mexico change their ambassador in Washington, to confront the anti-immigrant wave,” said Torres of Trump. Torres went on to herald Mexico’s new ambassador as a ‘David versus Goliath’ figure.
RAUL TORRES, REPORTER, TELEMUNDO: More than the wall that Trump wants to build between the two countries, Mexicans are concerned about the violence that may occur. The work of the new ambassador will be a fight of David against a Goliath.
Mexico’s new ambassador to the United States, Carlos Manuel Sada, replaces Miguel Basáñez, who served in the post for less than 7 months and who was the object of criticism in the report, for having “did little facing the anti-immigrant speech by Trump.” Sada previously served as Mexico’s consul in New York, Chicago and San Antonio.
Below is the transcript of the cited report from the April 6 edition of Noticias Telemundo:
NOTICIERO TELEMUNDO
4/6/16
6:36:07 PM – 6:38:13 PM EST | 2 MIN 5 SECS
MARIA CELESTE ARRARAS, ANCHOR, TELEMUNDO: In the middle of the anti-Mexican wave being lived in this country, Mexico decided to change their ambassador in Washington, that had only seven months on the job. His replacement is a diplomat with extensive experience, whose mission now is to protect all the Mexicans that live here in the United States. Raul Torres explains.
UNIDENTIFIED YOUNG WOMAN: Then, my opinion is negative.
UNIDENTIFIED OLDER WOMAN: Who knows, we hope he doesn’t win.
UNIDENTIFIED OLDER MAN: Sometimes we talk a lot, but sometimes we don’t say anything.
RAUL TORRES, REPORTER, TELEMUNDO: Fear, worry, anger and even laughter, that and more is what businessman Donald Trump provokes among Mexicans. But he made the government of Mexico change their ambassador in Washington to confront the anti-Mexican wave.
CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU, FOREIGN RELATIONS SECRETARY OF MEXICO: Looks to divide, to isolate, and to deride Mexico.
RAUL TORRES, REPORTER, TELEMUNDO: Miguel Basáñez was the ambassador. He didn’t even reach 7 months in the post. According to specialists, he arrived with wide academic experience but none in diplomacy. They ensure that his virtue was being friend of the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto. The new ambassador is the current Consul in Los Angeles, Carlos Manuel Sada. Sada was also consul in New York, Chicago and San Antonio. Mexican activists in the United States say Basáñez did little facing the anti-immigrant speech from Trump.
FRANCISCO MORENO, COUNCIL OF MEXICAN FEDERATIONS: The anti-immigrant climate is tremendous, and we need a strong voice like his to represent us in Washington.
RAUL TORRES, REPORTER, TELEMUNDO: The Foreign Minister did not wish to mention the Republican candidate Donald Trump by name. But she did recognize that many Mexicans in the United States have a lot of fear from anti-immigrant waves.
RAUL TORRES, REPORTER, TELEMUNDO: The main mission of the new ambassador will be the protection of all Mexicans living in the United States.
CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU, FOREIGN RELATIONS SECRETARY OF MEXICO: There is a mood, to some extent exacerbated in certain sectors against our countrymen, against our country.
RAUL TORRES, REPORTER, TELEMUNDO: More than the wall that Trump wants to build between the two countries, Mexicans are concerned about the violence that they may suffer. The work of the new ambassador will be a fight of David against a Goliath.
