Former Mexican President Vicente Fox talks Trump, marijuana, trade

PHOENIX – Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, visited Arizona State University this week to talk about the cannabis industry and to promote efforts to legalize marijuana in Mexico.

He sat down with Cronkite News reporters Lillian Donahue and Andrea Estrada, and he addressed trade relationships, upcoming elections in Mexico and his thoughts on President Donald Trump. Here’s what he said:

On the reason for his visit:

Fox: We are working together with this dynamic industry of cannabis with the vision of entrepreneurs and the state of Arizona. We’re building strong bridges with Mexico on this modern issue and also, of course, to enhance what we are already doing. We have a very, very strong trading relationship between Sonora and Arizona, as well as Mexico and Arizona, so it’s a goodwill trip to promote and also to announce that we’re holding this global cannabis summit (in Mexico in May).

On the purpose of the cannabis summit:

Fox: We’re inviting the global community … to share, to network, to discuss the future of the legalization in Mexico and how can we keep moving this movement moving faster than what it is so that we can take away the money from the criminals, from the cartels and save many, many lives.

On Mexico’s relationship with the U.S.:

Fox: Well, I feel sorry. I feel sad what is going here in the United States. This mess – about porn scandals, sex scandals, building walls, ideas of cancelling NAFTA, which has been the most incredible economic tool to develop our economies, both United States and Mexico – so we do not know what to think. This leadership is not what it used to be. … We just don’t believe what is going on, and we don’t really think what we should do on this situation.

On upcoming elections in Mexico:

Fox: It’s a crucial election in Mexico, as all elections are. Again, this time, we have this evil situation that prevailed throughout the 20th century in Latin America: Populism, demagoguery that has destroyed economies, that has destroyed nations like Cuba, like Venezuela, like Argentina, and today, Mexico has one of (these) populist demagogues running for the presidency … but I am absolutely convinced that Mexican people will not go that route, that we will not make Mexico a Venezuela or a Cuba.

On working with Trump:

Fox: Right now, even with Trump, we tried to see how can the relationship be re-established. But if he’s not collaborating, I think that somebody has to domesticate him and bring him down to prudence and intelligence and wisdom that he doesn’t seem to have.

On his criticism of Trump:

Fox: It’s not the person, it’s his policies. It’s wrong policies. I (worry) about the United States. Half of what you see here is American blood. My grandfather was born here. I love this nation. I respect this nation, and I feel bad that it’s in the hands of Trump right now. … He’s a false prophet. He will take this nation to the desert, to the nowhere. He doesn’t know what to propose.

His ideas are building a wall. His ideas are cancelling trade agreements. His ideas are bring back carbon jobs. … Even tax reduction: It’s good, it’s easy to do, but when is he going to get the money to invest in this nation, to invest in the schools, to invest in universities, to invest in technology, to invest in the future? I mean it’s very irresponsible for the government to come in and say ‘OK, I’m going to drop taxes down so that everybody is happy with me.’ That is stupid. You have to be a responsible government. You have to make sure that you will take this nation and lift this nation to a strong future. What he is doing is weakening the base of the resources needed for really building that future.

Last words:

Fox: To people here, to students, and to this very competitive state of Arizona: Let’s keep building bridges, let’s keep working together. We have seen the benefits of trading, the benefits of being good neighbors, the benefits of partnering between Sonora and Arizona. Let’s keep with that. Let’s build bridges.