Founder of Latinos for Trump says the wall is 'more than physical'
Donald Trump 's suggestion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is not only physical, but also it's symbolic, according to Marco Gutierrez, founder of Latinos for Trump.
"I came to this country to achieve the American Dream. I came here to be an American. I think a lot of Hispanics have felt complacent. They've forgotten that," Gutierrez said in an interview on CNBC's " Closing Bell ."
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto met in Mexico City . The GOP nominee said during a joint press conference that the two "did discuss the wall," but did not talk about who would pay for it.
Trump called a physical barrier on the border a "sovereign right" for any nation. But even with his sustained call for the wall, Trump used a decidedly less combative tone than he often has when talking about Mexico.
"Having a secure border is a sovereign right and mutually beneficial. We recognize the right of either country to build a physical barrier or wall," Trump said.
For Gutierrez, the meeting demonstrates Trump's international leadership abilities.
"I can see Donald Trump at the level of Putin. I can see him at the level of the prime minister in Canada and now we see him talking to somebody where there's so many divisive issues, but they are open to a dialogue," Gutierrez said.
Trump, who suggested some Mexican immigrants were rapists and criminals shortly after launching his campaign last year, called Mexican-Americans "spectacular" and "hard-working." Gutierrez accused the media and left for "kidnapping" the Latino community.
"There's a lot of Donald Trump supporters in the closet. The fear of supporting Donald Trump openly, it's something that we have to deal with," he said.
As for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton , Gutierrez said that "she needs to step away and let true leadership take over this country."
"I don't think any family should go back to the White House. I think she did her job needs to step already. She should just go and retire on an island somewhere and just enjoy her accomplishments," he said.
— CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report.
