Jeff Ottesen

WOW! Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump’s threats with a backhand… “So, you voted to build a wall. Well, dear Americans, even if geography isn’t your strong suit, since you consider America a country rather than a continent you should know that beyond that wall, there are 7 billion people. The word people might not resonate with you, let’s call them consumers. These 7 billion consumers can switch from iPhones to Samsung or Huawei in less than two days. They can swap Levi’s for Zara or Massimo Dutti and, within six months, replace Ford and Chevrolet with Toyota, KIA, Mazda, Honda, Hyundai, Volvo, Subaru, Renault, or BMW..Brands that often outperform in quality. They can cancel Direct TV, and though they might not want to, they can stop watching Hollywood films in favour of higher-quality productions from Latin America or Europe, which offer richer narratives and better cinematography. Believe it or not, people can skip Disney and instead visit the Xcaret resort in Cancun, or explore destinations in Mexico, Canada, South America, and Europe. In Mexico, you’ll find better hamburgers than McDonald's, with superior nutritional value. Have you ever seen pyramids in the U.S.? Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, and Sudan all have ancient wonders, none of them in the U.S. If they did, Trump would probably have bought and sold them by now. We know that Nike isn’t the only sneaker brand..There’s Adidas, and even Mexican brands like Panam. We understand the economy more than you think. And we also know that if these 7 billion consumers stop buying American products, unemployment will rise, and your economy trapped within its self-imposed wall will crumble to the point where you'll beg us to tear it down.We didn’t want to do this, but...you wanted a wall? Well, you got one.” Her approval ratings to historical levels, with one recent poll putting her support at 85 percent!