In a recent interview with CBS News's "60 Minutes," Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed his skepticism regarding former President Trump's promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. López Obrador attributed this doubt to the strong economic relationship between the two nations, stating that both countries have benefited from the economic and commercial agreement they signed. He further emphasized that President Biden shares a similar understanding.

When asked about the effectiveness of a border wall by CBS reporter Sharyn Alfonsi, López Obrador firmly asserted that walls do not work. He revealed that during a phone call with then-President Trump, he expressed his skepticism about the wall's efficacy. The Mexican leader recalled their agreement not to discuss the matter further, as they knew they would not reach a consensus on the issue.

López Obrador recounted a conversation in which he shared videos of tunnels from Tijuana to San Diego that had been used for illegal border crossings. Trump's response was laughter, acknowledging that he couldn't win the argument. The Mexican president also highlighted his refusal to publicly confront Trump over the former president's claim that the wall had curbed COVID-19 transmission.

Media reports from 2019 indicated that López Obrador considered the border wall to be an internal matter and sought to distance himself from discussions on the proposal. Notably, as Mexico's first leftist president in decades, he emphasized the positive relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, stating that the two nations were not distant neighbors.

During the interview, López Obrador rejected the suggestion by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that the U.S. could impose its immigration policy on Mexico. He firmly asserted that Mexico is not a colony or protectorate of any foreign country and stressed the importance of an equal footing between the governments.

The Mexican president praised President Biden for recognizing Mexico's sovereignty and treating the country as an equal partner, as expressed in their conversations. He stated that Biden consistently emphasized the need for a relationship based on equality.

López Obrador did not hold back in criticizing Texas Governor Greg Abbott, accusing him of engaging in "cheap politicking" regarding the U.S.-Mexico border situation. Abbott has made curbing the influx of migrants into the U.S. a central focus of his gubernatorial term, leading to a standoff with the Biden administration.

As the Mexican president reaffirms the importance of economic ties and rejects the notion of a border wall, the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. continues to be shaped by discussions on immigration policies and mutual respect for sovereignty.