After U.S. President-elect Donald Trump declared he would designate Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations on his first day in office, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters Mexico would never accept any interventionist actions.
“We will collaborate with and coordinate with the United States,” Sheinbaum said in response, “but we will never subordinate ourselves.”
During a Sunday speech to conservative supporters, Trump — who takes office on Jan. 20, 2025 — said he would address illegal drugs on his first day in office, according to the newspaper El País.
“All foreign gang members will be expelled and I will immediately designate the [drug] cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” Trump said, adding that every cartel “operating on American soil will be dismantled, deported and destroyed.”
Trump also mentioned his November phone call with Sheinbaum, after he had threatened to levy 25% tariffs on Mexico unless more is done to solve the problems of immigration and drug trafficking.
Calling Sheinbaum “a lovely woman,” Trump told the AmericaFest crowd that he was very tough on Mexico, saying he insisted the Mexican president must do more to address the drug trade.
Trump floated the idea of a terrorist designation during his first term in office back in 2019, but set plans aside at the request of Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who sought to cooperate in the fight against drug gangs, instead of considering intervention.
For several years, hard-liners in the United States have demanded that organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel be labeled as terrorist groups. These supporters would also back targeted attacks on cartel operations in Mexico in violation of international law, El País reported.
Officially designating cartels as terrorist organizations would legally permit the United States to send its military into Mexico to fight the crime gangs, the newspaper El Universal reported. Some U.S. officials believe such a measure would damage relations with Mexico and hinder the Mexican government’s fight against drug trafficking.
After saying she would defend Mexico’s sovereignty against any interventionist actions, Sheinbaum restated her government’s position on the drug war.
“The drugs are consumed [in the United States], the guns [the cartels use] come from there, and lives are lost down here,” she said. “But … we don’t accept interference in our country.”
Sheinbaum added that her administration is working to re-establish peace in Mexico by addressing the root causes of violence so that the country’s youth do not become involved in crime.
With reports from Por Esto, Reuters, El Universal, El País and Reforma
Seems to me that, Trump once again, is shooting from the hip without bothering to understand and take aim.
Sheinbaum is new in office. She has stated, repeatedly, that Mexico under her leadership will continue to work with the United States to produce significant, lasting progress against the United States.
Let’s at least give that a chance with Mexico’s new president and see where it goes before taking his proposed drastic action of invading a friendly ally right next door. Seems like more grandstanding from Trump to me, anyway, but who knows with this guy. According to his MEGA U.S. Supreme Court, Trump is “above the law” while in office.
Typical misquoting of what was stated. No one said there is going to be an invasion for one and getting these criminals out of the US in a good thing right.
Reread the article. Naming the cartels as terrorist organization would allow the US Government to violate Mexican sovereignty (invade). It is you who is twisting your words.
“hinder the Mexican government’s fight against drug trafficking”
Could you elaborate please?
Why not ask how to stop USA made guns sent to Mexico
well then, just ask Eric “wingman” Holder and Barack what went squirrely with their Operation Fast and Furious . . .
Thank you!
Fast and Furious operation, a botched federal gun trafficking investigation under Obama
Mexican cartels want guns. Simple supply and demand, just like people in the US wanting drugs.
Although I agree with Claudia’s stance, the Mexican people would not necessarily reject US intervention against the drug cartels. Everyday we are being pushed to the brink with cartel related violence and insecurity in Mexico. There are no easy answers to solve the problem at its core.
You’re absolutely right! I talk to a lot of Mexicans mostly in their 30’s and they are scared for their lives and children and sick and tired of the cartels terrorizing its citizens. They want action I think no matter where it comes from. I don’t blame them.
You’re exactly right on “no easy answers.” There are a number if communities that love the cartels and provide safe sanctuary.
Thag was covered in the news some years ago.
Why? Because the cartels invested in these safe-haven communities for doing things they couldm;t get from the government. Such things as a a clean water supply, sanitation, a school house, a hospital — other basic things that improved their quality of life.
As Sheinbaum has repeatedly said, the cartels are making and selling drugs to their devoted U.S. customers. The bulk of their weapons are manufactured and distributed to them from U.S. manufacturers and suppliers.
Seems to me that Trump needs to address his problems at home before declaring that Mexico is harboring terrorist organizations and needs to be invaded by U.S. military.
Fast and Furious operation, a botched federal gun trafficking investigation under Obama. No one said anything about invading Mexico.
Well said.
Giving kids more opportunity is admirable, and might make a tiny dent in a decade or two, but it does nothing to deal with the matters at hand. If this is her approach, she’ll do no more than Amlo did to deal with these monsters, who allowed them to flourish by turning the other cheek. If I were her, I’d appreciate the help of US troops targeting these monsters. As an America I’d appreciate Mexicos’s “coordinated” assistance in helping us suppress them in our country as well. It would be far smarter for both countries to convene, not intervene. I understand that she doesn’t want to be subjugated. But her plan of action is inaction.
The Trump administration should focus on Demand Reduction, Treatment, and Drug Interdiction rather than threaten Mexico.
Well said
heck, Mexico needs to STOP the Cartel extortion of local Mexican businesses . . . why do you support the Cartels . . . Francisco & Lee???
Riiiight cus that always works
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Sheinbaum, you are walking on “eggshells”, so be very careful what you say and WHAT intend YOU PROPOSE TO DO.. lOTS OF BAD THINGS ARE HEADED YOUR WAY ,You are walking a “tight rope”.
Best thing is to NOT SAY ANYTHING, AND HOPE THAT THINGS WORK FOR THE BEST. Lay low is best approach right now.
Trump is going after all Cartel s members in the U.S as “TERROISTS GROUPS”. This effort might affect Mexico and there is nothing you can do to stop it. It’s the US Problem not Mexico’s problem You Mexico is just going to “feel the effect” that is going to happen. Start getting ready for the change that is coming to Mexico, and it will have some major impact on “economic growth”, “tourism” and” foreign investments”, and the “peso “currency devaluation, and the 25% tariffs on all products. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE BAD POICIIES OBRADOR STARTED by allowing and NOT STOPPING THE FLOW OF MIGRANTS THROUGH MEXICO INTO THE UNITED STATES.
(Cartel killings and violence will also increase).
The soon to be Felon, Adjudicated Rapist in chief SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL of the shitstorm he will be creating when he tries to follow through on his ignorance and gets a healthy dose of reality thrown in his face. THINGS WILL NOT WORK OUT FOR THE BEST.
Open your blinds and look outside the election is over. Faults accusations and hate speech is not cool anymore. Open your heart and let the sunshine of the new golden era shine in. Have a blessed day.
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Thanks to Biden the US has a diversity of cartels operating within its borders deal with them first.
“The drugs are consumed [in the United States], the guns [the cartels use] come from there, and lives are lost down here,” she said.
Not exactly true. More lives are lost in the US from fentanyl over doses than cartel-government clashes in Mx. I hold Mx and China responsible for that and something has to be done. US military in Mx is not a good idea…they have a bad habit of overstaying their welcome and that could cause big danger for the million US citizens living in Mx. Intense cooperation between US and Mx would be helpful but Mx is so corrupt that the US never knows who it is dealing with. Sheinbaum can’t sit on her hands on this like her predecessor. I see nothing but trouble ahead. Trump is so unpredictable and unhinged that he rarely remembers what he said a week after he says it.
I hold ALL the druggies in the USA responsible. If there wasn’t a demand there wouldn’t be any drugs crossing the border. But the good thing is the fact most of them won’t live a year after becoming an addict. They aren’t contributing to society so nobody will miss them.
You are a horrible person to think this way if you are not just ignorant!
My college age daughter fell victim to fentanyl from Mexico. I have homes in both the US and Mexico. Their drugs are destroying our bright youth.
so true
OMG after 4 years of Biden and you are still talking about Trump after already having 4 years of Trump to compare to. No shots fired, peace in the middle east. No inflation and 2$ a gallon gas and you wonder why we are so divided.
Trump is a poser. He’s just posing again. He thinks it makes him look good to his voters. He’s not going near Mexico. He hasn’t the slightest idea how to intervene in Mexico. He also has some slight notion about what intervening in Mexico would mean, “bad things”. Besides he has his work cut out for him in the US – a hell of a lot of drug use that funds the Mexican cartels and a hell of lot of guns made in the US being sold to the Mexican cartels. Besides that, he also knows what is waiting for him in Mexico: getting the shit kicked out of any US army guys by the cartels. US army guys have been sitting around in army camps in the US while the cartels have been actually fighting.
OMG what world are you living in. Thank Biden and Obama for the gun and drug problems.
The military “solution” to the cartels was in place since 2006 and the Merida Initiative. It has been a total failure. There is more gang violence and more drug trafficking than before the “War on Drugs”. The main thing it did in Mexico was that the US sent massive amount of arms into Mexico for police action – but a large proportion of those guns ended up in the hands of the cartels, with the results we have seen in deaths and disappearances. What did it accomplish in the US? The use of drugs has not abated. Not to mention that a lot of drug deaths are not from fentanyl – but opioids inflicted on the people by US pharmaceutical companies!
First of all the President elect soon to be President is not authorized to designate. The law 8 USC 1189: Designation of foreign terrorist organizations. The Secretary of State is authorized to designate an organization as a foreign terrorist organzition. The designation has to be published in the Federal Registry first. The Secretary of State has to notify the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President pro empore, Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and members of the relevant committees of the House of Representatives and Senate in writing, of the intent to designate an organization and present findings and factual basis. No where in the beginning of this process does the office of the President get discussed. I am not an attorney, the information is from the verbage of the law.
Do you really think that Trump’s Secretary of State will not do EXACTLY what he asks of him? And in that law, nowhere does it give congress a vote yes or no. Only that they be notified.
We shall see. In my opinion, mostt likely to file an designation they will need all names, addresses, phone numbers, bank account numbers (etc) and how each foreign organization operates in detail. They will need to address USA consumption and illegal gun trafficing from the USA into México. Just presenting the information to the appropriate parties will be consume alot of time.
Of course la Presidenta must insist on Mexican sovereignty, but that would be honored if Mexico ASKED for assistance to address a problem it clearly can’t solve itself. Claudia has left herself room to maneuver.
I really like her standing up to the bully! You stop allowing guns across my border and I will stop drugs! Until they all get to the route cause and start by calling it The War on Drugs, we will all be better off. Can you imagine how much $$$ has been wasted in this fight?!?? No end in sight either! You know the old saying,” doing the the same and expecting different results is foolish”. Again, Trumpy posturing, something like Mexico paying for a wall…right.
Try curbing the demand big boy. Cartels meet demands. They don’t create them. How hard is it t get treatment in Estates Unidos? Extremely. We never look inside…why is there this deplorable need for narcotics inside the USA? Direct some of your resources there. But its much more MAGA to create enemies somewhere else.
I guess your logic applies to HUMAN TRAFFICING, child slavery, and the importation of the SEX TRADE . . . goodness, good to know that the USA has a slave trade demand far exceeding the 1700’s Arab traders out of Africa . . .
There are 1.5 MILLION AMERICANS IN MEXICO, Trumpie. How are you going to avoid killing some of them just to look like a tough guy, weenie that you really are? Why don’t you do something instead about all the addicted who are desperate for the drugs – why are they so unhappy that they do drugs, hmmmm? How about you establish programs to GET THEM off the drugs? (Or is that too much *thinking* for you?)
. . . there are programs sweetheart . . .
George Soros pushed Mayor Scott to bring drug consumption sites to Baltimore. Between the Biden administration and Soros paid for DA’s drugs and drug pushers run ramped with no fear of arrest.
If it wasn’t to supply drugs to the US they would find other other ways to make pesos. Like extortion, killing for hire, in Mexico. The partial truth is Mexico has to get corrupt officials out of government positions, the police and military. Pay them living wages so they are not susceptible to being bribed. There is zero rule of law iMexico. Yes US offers drugs for a mode of making pesos but there are so many opportunities. Mexico is a country with many resources including its people. It must first or second get its institutionalized corruption solved and then it can blame the US addicts.
agreed . . . too bad the “anything and everything” USA & Trump haters have to continue their “Ugly American” rants while looking at themselves in the mirror . . . the folks posting above are not the Homer Akins types . . .
Just thinking if you honestly want to stop the fentanyl trade do something about China, this is where the product is coming from, into Mexico then manufacturing and sent up north, slapping a tariff on Chinese goods is not the answer, who actually ends up paying for that, the American consumer of course, inflation going in the wrong direction
If tariffs don’t work why did Biden leave Trumps tariffs on China in place when he came into office?
Steven Ajaffe, corruption in Mexico is penny ante compared to the orders of magnitude corruption in the US. Just look at the Pay-To-Play swampy stuff going on in the forthcoming Inauguration of the president elect. 160 million payed in by the grifting elites, including the richest man in the world. This is shaping up to be similar to the takeover of Russia by grifting entrepreneurs in Russia following Putin´s succession.
As for cartel drugs coming north, remember Economics 101: the law of supply and demand. Wherever there is Demand, it will ALWAYS be filled by supply. It is delusional to think you can stop or even control demand by trying to stop the supply.
Your delusional, a limousine liberals. ” an affluent individual who identify as liberal or progressive, yet live lifestyles that is disconnected from the struggles and realities faced by the working class and marginalized communities you claim to support. This phenomenon is often referred to as “living in a bubble.”
Trump wants to run the world. The man is delusional. If the US comes onto our soil to fight the cartels far more innocent lives will be lost than we already experience. Sadly he wouldn’t care how many Mexican lives are lost, he has no heart and no conscience. He is empty inside. Better he should go after the illegal gun dealers that are putting these weapons in the hands of the cartel, and the Americans aiding the cartels in bringing drugs into the country. Look at yourself before trying to fix somewhere else.
We already had 4 years of Trump. No wars no shots fired and peace in the middle east. He freed thousands of non violent criminal’s from jail. What are you talking about. We are now on the verge of WW3 because of Biden.
LMAO