Donald Trump is not the only politician who enjoys writing 140-character diatribes.
For some time now, former Mexican president Vicente Fox has been using the platform to directly challenge, and troll, the new US president. As press secretary Sean Spicer insisted “Mexico will pay” for the border wall, Fox made his views clear:
Sean Spicer, I've said this to @realDonaldTrump and now I'll tell you: Mexico is not going to pay for that fucking wall. #FuckingWall
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) January 25, 2017
#FuckingWall then began trending worldwide. In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, he repeated: “I have said and I have told the Donald, that Mexico will never pay for that fucking wall. And now I have to repeat it to this guy Sean Spicer.”
Since Trump announced his plans for a wall between Mexico and the US during his campaign trail, Fox has been vocal in his opposition to the “racist monument”. And he has been robust in the language he uses to do so, both on Twitter and in video interviews.
Of course, Fox’s expletive-laden criticism did not escape Trump’s notice. He tweeted back in February 2016 that Fox “must apologise” for swearing while discussing the wall. Fox doubled down, repeating: “I am not going to pay for that fucking wall” on live television.
Ever since, the former president of Mexico has used Trump’s favourite means of communication to challenge and mock Trump and his wall:
Trump may ask whoever he wants, but still neither myself nor Mexico are going to pay for his racist monument.
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) January 6, 2017
Another promise he can't keep.
TRUMP, when will you understand that I am not paying for that fucken wall. Be clear with US tax payers. They will pay for it.
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) January 6, 2017
@realDonaldTrump, I won't pay for that f***ing wall! Also, Campaigning in Mexico? Running out of money and friends? pic.twitter.com/P5iyZsQzUa
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) September 9, 2016
Trump nobody except you & us tax payers will pay for the useless focking wall.
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) March 31, 2016
Trump you came to Mexico derailed government and President Peño..you lied and betrayed Pena. We need a WALL so you don't come back.
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) September 8, 2016
#trump,I searched, for a Trump fan in Santander Spain,nobody,none, only POKEMONES. ,You are not welcome here either pic.twitter.com/Jufmh4MHae
— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) September 18, 2016
In an interview with BuzzFeed, Fox said of Trump: “I understood Hitler, I understood Napoleon, I understand a lot of very violent ones. This one I don’t understand.”
The current president of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto has also said his country will not pay for the wall – though he did not swear or start an internationally trending hashtag while doing so.
