What? Larry Rubin the next U.S. ambassador to Mexico?
Well, apparently that’s what the former executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and GOP official representative in Mexico think.
Is this the same Larry Rubin that over a month ago was blasting now president-elect’s Donald Trump candidacy when it was at low ebb? He fell short of voting for Hillary but he admitted that he would not vote for Trump on Nov. 8 and is now part of Trump’s Chief of Staff and Reince Priebus’ personnel and liaison in Mexico. Larry Rubin is also currently the president of the American Society of Mexico.
Also competing for the nomination to the post, according to a Washington Post news item published last Friday, is the current U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce president Albert Zapanta, who showed surprise on Saturday about being considered by Trump and said that he had been too busy, involved in a U.S.-Mexico energy business meeting last week. Zapanta, a Vietnam War vet, is also a Purple Heart medal general.
In an interview with local Mexico City daily, Rubin, raised and educated at the American School and local universities, made the announcement that “in a few days” Trump will be announcing his pick for ambassador to Mexico.
“The president-elect has a great interest in opening up institutional communications channels with the nation. Soon he will be making the announcement as to who will be his administration’s next ambassador to Mexico.”
The idea, he told the daily, is to have a representative as soon as possible to sit and talk with the Mexican government about common interest themes even before Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20.
“That’s the expectation and this way, president-elect Trump will have a trustworthy person officially operating as ambassador.”
The very mention of these two potential candidates for ambassador will surely start soothing fears in Mexico about the shape of things to come under a Donald Trump candidacy.
Larry Rubin said during the electoral campaign “I don’t see how the U.S.-Mexico relationship can be strengthened under Trump; I don’t agree with his idea of international trade and in particular about the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).”
Rubin is a Mexico-honed politico and has great contacts with the local government, which makes him a good candidate as a mediator between Trump and the frightened Mexican business community.
Albert Zapanta, for his part, is a well-established and known defender of strengthening NAFTA ties with Mexico, and, according to the Washington Post, he said he’s been in contact with Donald Trump Jr. along with lobbyist Steve Bannon. Zapanta is part of the Republican Hispanics group which would most certainly be behind his candidacy in order to strengthen the lacking Hispanic vote.
At a moment in which everyone in Mexico is talking negatively as to the shape of things to come especially for the economy, the sound of the names Rubin and Zamanta is definitely good news.
Either of them would be perfect to avoid the trade war Trump promised many of his electors, particularly in terms of closing down the border with Mexico.
Rubin or Zapanta? Let’s hope the U.S. president-elect picks the right person as the last thing the Mexican government wants is a fight with the United States, regardless of the nature of the brawl.
There’s too much at stake for frivolities!
