A spokeswoman for Donald Trump has confirmed a published report that the president-elect recently had dinner with Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
The weekend meal at Trump’s Florida estate is surprising because Trump criticized Slim toward the end of the U.S. presidential election. Slim is a major investor in The New York Times.
Slim, who also has criticized Trump rethoric, apparently is trying to leave the rancor behind.
Trump spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, confirmed that the two characters had dinner together on Saturday December 17, as reported by The Washington Post.
People briefed on the conversation said the dinner was designed to open a friendly line of communication between Trump and Slim (not between the U.S. and Mexico though).
The two billionaires, who have clashed in the past, appeared to set aside their differences – although the contents of their discussion were not disclosed
Slim’s trip to Florida came after former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who remains close to Trump, quietly visited Slim in Mexico City earlier this month.
It was said that Carlos Slim got a “very positive” impression from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about ties with Mexico after the two met for dinner, a spokesman for the Mexican telecoms billionaire said on Monday December 19.
Arturo Elias Ayub, Slim’s son-in-law and spokesman, confirmed the report in The Washington Post that the two men dined at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, saying that the meal was “very cordial and with a very good vibe for Mexico.”
Elias Ayub stated he had no further details when asked if the meal had left Slim with a sense that Mexico was unlikely to face a major economic shock when Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
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