Jorge Pérez, a friend and former business partner of Donald Trump, is critical of the president's plan to build a wall on the Mexican border, calling it "immoral," The Wall Street Journal reports.
Pérez received an email, which was reviewed by the newspaper, from Trump back in December. The email included an attachment showing a photo of a border fence near San Diego, according to the Journal.
The newspaper reported the message accompanying the photo read: "Any interest in building a 2,000 mile wall – 30' high – between U.S.A. Mexico? Call me."
Pérez noted: "I told him I thought the wall was immoral and it wouldn't achieve the goals he wanted to achieve." Plus, I have lots of business in Mexico — I'd be finished here."
Trump and Pérez have been friends for over 10 years, the Journal reported. Pérez's company even developed a Trump-branded condominium in South Florida, the newspaper said, and it was reportedly involved with Trump in other real estate deals in South Florida, Mexico and South America.
Pérez has hosted fundraisers for Democratic presidential candidates and advised President Bill Clinton on policy toward Cuba, the country he fled, the Journal reported.
The billionaire businessman also said Trump had asked him if he was interested in being secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the newspaper said.
"The one person who could teach me something about real estate is Jorge Pérez," Trump wrote in the foreword to Pérez's 2008 real-estate how-to book, "Powerhouse Principles," according to the Journal.
"He dares to dream, and he makes those dreams real. The result has changed lives, and cities."
But despite their friendship, The New York Times reported Pérez supported Hillary Clinton during the presidential race.
And regarding the wall, The Times quoted Pérez as saying: "Once it's finished, which side of it will I be on?"
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