Just over a month after calling Mexicans rapists and criminals during his presidential campaign announcement, real estate mogul Donald Trump is preparing to visit the U.S.-Mexico border this Thursday.
"I've been invited by the Border Patrol and they want to honor me, actually. And thousands and thousands of them, because I'm speaking up," Trump said during a Wednesday interview on "Fox and Friends." These are tremendous people, these are tough people."
Trump's campaign confirmed a Thursday visit the sleepy town of Laredo, Texas soon after. The GOP frontrunner will speak near "the actual Border" at 2 p.m. CST, according to information emailed to media outlets Wednesday, providing GPS coordinates 27.3005 N, 99.3034. A Google Maps search places the location about 10 miles southwest of the border.
By his count, this will Trump's fourth-ever visit to the border, telling CNN he is "the only one that speaks their language."
The leader in several presidential candidacy national polls, Trump alienated Republican voters this week when said Arizona Sen. John McCain was not a war hero. After South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham called him an "idiot" for demeaning the veteran, Trump released Graham's phone number during a campaigns stop on Tuesday.
Trump has not backed away from either degrading Mexicans or questioning McCain's military record amid mounting criticism.
"Mr. Trump will learn firsthand of the many holes and vulnerabilities that the Los Zetas cartel exploits to enter Texas and oppress their victims," said Brandon Darby, managing director for the local National Border Patrol Council chapter.
Earlier this month, chapter president Hector Garza said he wanted to give Trump a first-person perspective on the state of the border. He said the invitation was not an endorsement of Trump's presidential run as various other Republican lawmakers have previously been invited, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Before ending his Fox News interview, Trump highlighted potential security concerns with the trip. "I'll be flying in. I may never see you again but we're going to do it," Trump said.