Mexico’s leftist president-elect, who once referred to President Trump as “erratic and arrogant,” dialed down the rhetoric after his resounding victory by thanking Trump for his “respectful” congratulation message and saying he hopes to “reach an understanding” with the US leader, according to a report on Monday.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is known widely by his initials, AMLO, told the Televisa news network that Trump’s tweet “was very respectful. That is what we always want to maintain with the U.S. government, that there be mutual respect,” the Associated Press reported.
“I look very much forward to working with him. There is much to be done that will benefit both the United States and Mexico!,” Trump posted on Sunday evening.
“We are never going to disrespect the US government, because we want them to respect us,” Lopez Obrador told the network. “At the appropriate moment, we are going to get in touch, to reach an understanding” with the Trump administration.
Trump said he spoke with Lopez Obrador for about a half-hour Monday and the two talked about border security, trade and the North American Free Trade Agreement.
“We had a lot of good conversation, I think the relationship will be a very good one,” Trump said during an Oval Office event with the prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte. “He had a very excellent election. I would say he did better than anticipated.”
Trump also told Lopez Obrador that he saw him years ago campaigning for another race and told him that some day “he’ll be the president of Mexico.”
“He remembered that,” the president said. “And it turned out to be correct.”
The former mayor of Mexico City during the campaign condemned Trump’s call for a border wall and said his language insulting certain people “goes against humanity.”
A day after his win, he said he would be willing to work out a deal with Trump and Canada on NAFTA.
The three countries are negotiating the 1994 pact, and Trump said if they can’t reach a fair deal, he’ll withdraw from it.
Lopez Obrador, who’s been compared to Trump for his populist appeal, fiery speeches and disdain for the status quo, said he would seek to have his own team of experts be included in the talks.
But he will allow the current team appointed by President Enrique Peña Nieto to remain until he takes over the office on Dec. 1.
Lopez Obrador won more than 53 percent of the vote in the as-yet-incomplete count, a margin not seen in the country for more than three decades.
“I confess that I have a legitimate ambition: I want to go down in history as a good president of Mexico,” said Lopez Obrador, who lost in two previous bids for president. “I desire with all my soul to raise the greatness of our country on high.”
