JAKE TAPPER: Any moment, we're expecting President Trump
to sign into action more executive orders, including
a follow up to that baseless claim that millions of votes
were illegally cast in the 2016 election.
But we're going to begin with our lead story, the president's
executive actions this week causing
a breach with a key trading partner south of the border.
Today, Mexico's president canceled a planned meeting
with President Trump, a protest over President Trump's
insistence that Mexico pay for a border
wall between the two countries.
As the president forges ahead on the wall and other policy
priorities today, he addressed the group
that will decide which of these goals will become law first
and how much funding it will get.
That's Republicans in Congress, of course.
CNN reporters across the hemisphere
are covering President Trump's initiatives
and this diplomatic uproar between the US
and its southern neighbor.
We're going to begin with CNN's senior White House
correspondent Jim Acosta in the great city of Philadelphia,
where the president spoke today to Republican members of
Congress, who are at a retreat.
And Jim, the White House just announced
how the president wants to get Mexico to pay for the wall.
Tell us about it.
JIM ACOSTA: That's right, Jake.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters
that President Trump does indeed have a plan
to make Mexico reimburse US taxpayers for the cost
of that wall on the border, and that is by imposing
a 20% tax on Mexican imports.
That is sure to continue to raise tensions between the US
and Mexico, another reminder that walls
come with consequences.
Just as President Trump stepped off of his maiden voyage
as commander-in-chief on Air Force One,
he had landed in his first diplomatic controversy.
And for a change, all eyes weren't on his Twitter feed,
but on the tweets coming from Mexican president Enrique Pena
Nieto, who announced, in blunt Trump fashion,
that he has informed the White House he will not be attending
a meeting scheduled next week with the new American
president, a protest of President
Trump's plan for a massive new wall on the border.
ENRIQUE PENA NIETO: [speaking spanish]
INTERPRETER: Mexico does not believe in walls.
I've said, time and again, Mexico
will not pay for any wall.
Mr. Trump all but invited Pena Nieto to scrap the trip,
tweeting, "If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly
needed wall, then it would be better to cancel
the upcoming meeting."
DONALD TRUMP: Sit down, everybody.
Let's enjoy ourselves.
JIM ACOSTA: At a GOP leaders retreat in Philadelphia,
the president said the decision to cancel was mutual.
DONALD TRUMP: The president of Mexico and myself
have agreed to cancel our planned meeting,
scheduled for next week.
Unless Mexico is going to treat the United
States fairly, with respect, such a meeting
would be fruitless.
JIM ACOSTA: And he touted another part
of his immigration plan, the swift removal
of undocumented criminals.
DONALD TRUMP: They're gonna be gone, fast.
JIM ACOSTA: Top Republicans in Congress
are now examining ways to pay for the wall,
which comes with an estimated price
tag of at least $12 billion.
MITCH MCCONNELL: We intend to address the wall
issue ourselves, and the president
can deal with his relations with other countries
on that issue and other issues.
JIM ACOSTA: House Speaker Paul Ryan's advice
to Republicans, buckle up.
PAUL RYAN: This is going to be unconventional presidency.
I think you know this by now, Casey.
And I think we're--
I think we're going to see unconventional activities,
like tweets and things like that,
and I think that's something that we're all
going to have to get used to.
JIM ACOSTA: While Republican leaders are following
the president's path on Mexico, they
are flat out rejecting his latest defense of the use
of torture on terror suspects.
MITCH MCCONNELL: I believe virtually all of my members
are comfortable with the state of the law on that issue now.
PAUL RYAN: And torture is illegal.
And torture is not legal, and we agree with it not being legal.
JIM ACOSTA: But the president warned his party,
he's not backing down from an agenda he sees
as essential to keeping Americans safe,
both overseas and on the streets of US cities.
DONALD TRUMP: You look at Chicago.
What's going on in Chicago?
I said the other day, what the hell is going on?
That is why we will continue to stand with the incredible men
and women of law enforcement.
JIM ACOSTA: And while President Trump won't be welcoming
Enrique Pena Nieto to the White House next week,
he will be sitting down with British
Prime Minister Theresa May at the White House tomorrow.
They are scheduled to hold a news conference.
That will be the first for President Trump
with a foreign leader, a major foreign leader,
at the White House, Jake.
And despite the special relationship between the US
and the UK, I think it's pretty safe
to say most of those questions tomorrow
will be about that wall.
Jake.
JAKE TAPPER: All right.
Jim Acosta, thank you so much.