President Trump Signs Executive Orders for “Extreme Vetting” of Refugees, Military Buildup

President Donald J. Trump signed executive orders requiring the “extreme vetting” of refugees and to begin rebuilding the U.S. military. Regarding the latter, components of the U.S. military under former President Barack Obama were reduced to levels not seen since before the second world war.

The president also met and spoke with world leaders today, hosting UK Prime Minister Theresa May at the White House and speaking with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto by phone for an hour Friday morning.

“The two had a productive and constructive call regarding the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the current trade deficit the United States has with Mexico, the importance of the friendship between the two nations, and the need for the two nations to work together to stop drug cartels, drug trafficking and illegal guns and arms sales,” the White House said in a statement.

President Nieto was scheduled to visit the White House this week, as well. However, he ultimately buckled to domestic political pressure over President Trump’s insistence on building a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border, a key campaign promise he made along with the promise that Mexico would pay for its construction. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president is weighing a tax on imported goods from Mexico to fund the construction.

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“With respect to payment for the border wall, both presidents recognize their clear and very public differences of positions on this issue but have agreed to work these differences out as part of a comprehensive discussion on all aspects of the bilateral relationship,” the statement added. “Both presidents have instructed their teams to continue the dialogue to strengthen this important strategic and economic relationship in a constructive way.”