Trump Backs Off Central Campaign Promise: “We Did Discuss The Wall. We Didn’t Discuss Payment Of The Wall”

CNN: “Trump On Mexican Trip: 'Who Pays For The Wall? We Didn't Discuss.'” CNN reported, “Donald Trump said Wednesday that he discussed the wall he wants to build along the southern border with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto -- but not which country would pay for it”:

Republican nominee Donald Trump said Wednesday that he discussed the wall he wants to build along the southern border with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto -- but not which country would pay for it.



Trump's call for a wall that Mexico would pay for is a central theme on the campaign trail and one he frequently uses to fire up his supporters, so its omission from Wednesday's conversation was particularly noteworthy.



“Who pays for the wall? We didn't discuss,” Trump said when asked by a reporter during a news conference following their meeting in Mexico City. “We did discuss the wall. We didn't discuss payment of the wall. That'll be for a later date.” [CNN, 8/31/16]

Media Figures: Trump’s Biggest Campaign Promise Went Unmentioned

Vox’s Dara Lind: “Mr. Big Tough Negotiator Make Better Deals Trump Just Didn't Bring Up His Biggest Point Of Disagreement With A Counterparty?”

So Mr. Big Tough Negotiator Make Better Deals Trump just didn't bring up his biggest point of disagreement with a counterparty?

— Dara Lind (@DLind) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]



Federalist’s Tom Nichols: “Trump’s Whimpering In Mexico Just Made Jeb Look Like A Savage Nativist By Comparison.”

Trump's whimpering in Mexico just made Jeb look like a savage nativist by comparison. True bully: big talk except around an actual Mexican.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]



Daily Beast Columnist Stuart Stevens: “Sort Of Mind Boggling.”

Sort of mind boggling he didn't. Why? https://t.co/K4y5CbAaAD

— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]



New York Times’ Jonathan Martin: Trump “Didn’t Discuss” His “Signature Line.”

Trump's signature line is that Mexico will pay for a border wall.



He met with the Mexican president & didn't discuss their paying for wall

— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]



HotAir’s Allahpundit: “Pitiful.”

Pitiful https://t.co/se3USVERvc

— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]



Federalist’s Gabriel Malor: “We Didn’t Discuss The Thing Which Is The Centerpiece Of My Immigration Policy. It Just Didn’t Come Up. Hah.”

“Oh, hah. We didn't discuss this thing which is the centerpiece of my immigration policy. It just didn't come up. Hah.”

— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]



Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes: “Trump’s Boldest Campaign Promise, Unmentioned.”

Trump's boldest campaign promise, unmentioned. https://t.co/r9Zb0miRTk

— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]



Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin: “How Does Trump Keep His ‘Mexico Will Pay For The Wall’ Nonsense?”

after not even raising it with NIeto how does Trump keep his “Mexico pay for the wall” nonsense?

— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) August 31, 2016

[Twitter, 8/31/16]