'God knows we don't like him': Mexico's former ambassador to China explains how Mexico -and the world - reacted to the first year of Trump

Woody: How would you assess the Mexican government's handling of its interactions and relations with the US government?

Guajardo: I'm not a big fan of the way they've been handling these things.

Now mind you, they've been dealt a difficult card, but ... I would highlight two things. Their insistence in bringing the two presidents together. I don't see what the point is. I think the president of the United States is dead-set on insulting the Mexican president at every opportunity he has. It's just going to create problems for Mexico if they get together. So I don't see why they keep insisting on having this. I don't see what legitimacy they're aiming for in this summit.

On the other hand, they've put all their eggs in Jared Kushner's basket. I guess because it has worked for them, but I tend to think it's better to institutionalize the relationship, and if you go through the State Department or the respective institutions, you're better positioned to withstand any shocks.

For instance, if Jared Kushner leaves tomorrow, for whatever reason — or as we used to say, if martians come down and take Jared Kushner away — you're safe because you have your institutional relationship, and I think the Mexican government has not been very good at keeping the institutional relationship, in order to favor Jared Kushner as a channel.

Woody: People I've spoken to, political scientists, they've said the same thing: If you rely on these personal connections to establish diplomatic relations, you put yourself at the mercy of the longevity of those people in office.

Guajardo: Exactly, and that's a problem. Not only is it a problem for you, as a counterpart to the United States, but for your successor as well.

Because whatever the case, Mexico will have a new government come December 1, and it is this current administration's responsibility to ensure that there is a good transition, a working transition, and when you have done everything through your personal connections with Jared Kushner, well it doesn't necessarily provide for an institutional transition of power, since the incoming administration may not have that personal relationship with Kushner.

If you have done everything institutionally through the respective channels, it will be easier for the incoming administration, of whichever party it may be.

Woody: So you've spent time in Texas, which is a red state. You work in Washington now. Do you think the Mexican government, Peña Nieto or another administration, do you think there's a strong knowledge among Mexican officials about how US politics works?

Guajardo: I think yes. There is a sense, without a doubt.

The one thing, and I would just say ... I think most of the world understands the way the United States system works, and you will see that most of the Mexican government has either US educations or speak English, have lived in the United States at some point, have relatives in the United States, so yes, I think in that sense there is a good understanding of how the political system works in the United States.

Woody: But in Peña Nieto's case, they've been dealt a bad hand and they've made a few missteps.

Guajardo: Well, how do you deal with a president who's dead-set intent on insulting you at every at every chance [he] gets because it makes him feel good? What do you do?

If it were up to me, I just say, 'You do your thing. I'm going to do my thing,' and just try to ignore each other as much as possible and make sure that everything under is working. Why keep insisting on that summit meeting, I don't know.

Woody: You referred to Trump's tweets "white noise," which is I think an assessment a lot of people would make. But in your position and as someone who lives and thinks as a Mexican and an American and as a diplomat, how do you tell what's noise and what's substance coming out of this administration?

Guajardo: I think Mexicans have discounted the fact that Trump doesn't like Mexico or Mexicans, that he dislikes [them] ... whether it be for racist reasons or whatever, I think Mexicans have discounted that, and, for instance, you'll see him go to Pennsylvania and do his rally, make fun of the Mexican president. It barely makes news in Mexico; however, when he talks about imposing tariffs on steel, he does do a carve out for Mexico.

So we understand that where the important things lie, he understands what he can and cannot do, and Mexico, personally I think he dislikes Mexico, and, I mean, it's a shame but we're OK. We can live with that. I don't need to be liked by everybody. God knows we don't like him.

So, I mean, that's what I call white noise. If he just wants to be calling us things, well, we call him many things back in Mexico, so it's mutual.