Byron York: Mexico Gamble a Huge Win for Trump

It absolutely totally overshadows anything Hillary Clinton is going to do for the next 48 hours. By Byron York About an hour before Donald Trump made his joint statement with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto a strategist in Trumps extended circle saw success on the horizon. I bet they have a nice meeting where they both explain their positions and promise to talk further it doesnt have to be any more complicated than that the strategist explained. If Trump just has a calm behind-closed-doors meeting has a photo taken looks presidential and gets out of town thats a big win. Indeed it was a big win a very big win for Trump. Going into a meeting with the potential for disaster who knew how Pena Nieto would receive the worlds most controversial presidential candidate or what embarrassments might lie ahead? Trump came out of the meeting looking very much like a potential President of the United States. Standing beside the Mexican leader in front of a green-gray granite wall reminiscent of the United Nations Trump presented the picture of a statesman. In Mexico he looked like a world leader. Before the meeting some in the Trump circle saw a win virtually no matter what happened.

Its a great gesture another adviser said. Frankly the outcome doesnt matter. Its the fact that he did it. He took the guy up on his invitation and even if theres no substance at least the gesture was made. It absolutely totally overshadows anything Hillary Clinton is going to do for the next 48 hours.

After the hour-long session Trump benefited enormously from the conventions and practices of international relations. There they were the president at one podium and the candidate at another translators translating the assembled international press watching. When it came time to talk Pena Nieto observed the niceties of diplomacy treating Trump as a quasi-president already.

I had a very open and constructive discussion with Donald Trump Pena Nieto said.

Even though we may not agree on everything I trust that together we will be able to find prosperity and security.

Not agree on everything? Before the meeting its fair to say that Pena Nieto and Trump didnt agree on much of anything from the border wall to NAFTA to Trumps statements about Mexicans to Pena Nietos statements about Trump. But after the meeting the president and the candidate stood before the press like two world leaders calmly and rationally discussing the issues of the day. It didnt matter that in his remarks Pena Nieto offered a positive case for his country and his people that served as a rebuttal to much of what Trump has said in the past. What mattered more was the Mexican leaders public acceptance of Trump as an American leader. Many polls have shown that large numbers of voters do not believe Trump is qualified to be president. After the session the Trump campaign was quick to tout the trip as evidence that he is ready for the Oval Office.

Mr. Trumps trip to Mexico is an impressive display of his ability to serve as our nations president on day one said deputy communications director Bryan Lanza in a statement.

This shows Mr. Trumps commitment to strengthening our economy as well as our relationship with our neighbor Mexico.

Pena Nieto invited Clinton to visit too. If she does she will of course receive the kind of respectful official treatment that she deserves. But Clinton as a former secretary of state has videos of zillions of photo ops showing her as a major player on the world stage. Trump had none. Until today.