After rough exchanges, Trump invites Mexican mogul Carlos Slim to a 'very cordial' meal

In an apparent attempt to smooth things over after months of mutual criticism, Donald Trump and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim sat down for a “very cordial” meal Saturday in Florida. Slim’s spokesman confirmed the two had dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and said the telecom mogul got a "very positive" impression from the U.S. President-elect about ties with Mexico. "(Slim) was left with a very positive taste in his mouth regarding the relationship with Mexico," said Arturo Elias, Slim's son-in-law and spokesman. He said the meeting had taken place at Trump's invitation. Trump angered Mexicans during the election campaign by pledging to build a wall on the U.S. southern border and make Mexico pay for it, as well as threatening to ditch a joint trade deal and impose punitive tariffs on Mexican-made goods. Those pledges sparked criticism from business leaders including Slim, who said Trump's plans could destroy the U.S. economy. But following the Nov. 8 election, Slim offered a more upbeat take, saying that if Trump succeeded, it would be good news for Mexico. Elias said 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.