U.S. President Donald Trump used a bill-signing ceremony on Wednesday to criticize Mexico once again, repeating his claim that drug cartels have “very strong control over Mexico.”
“Mexican authorities are petrified to show up at their office, to go to work because cartels have a tremendous grip [on the country and its politicians],” he said.
On Thursday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum calmly but firmly rejected Trump’s statements as “imprecise” and declared that her administration is not afraid of the drug cartels.
“We have taken firm action against the cartels,” she said, “and, unlike previous administrations, we have not allowed organized crime to infiltrate our security institutions.”
Sheinbaum said U.S. customs officials have corroborated the progress Mexico is making, including a 50% reduction in fentanyl trafficking on Mexico’s northern border.
Additionally, Sheinbaum instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Security Ministry to prepare a report on all the actions Mexico has implemented in the fight against drug trafficking and the regulation of precursor chemicals. The document will be sent to the U.S. government and members of the U.S. Congress.
Trump made his comments during the signing ceremony for his Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, a priority for the U.S. president, who has cited the illicit flow of fentanyl as one of the reasons for his tariff threats against Canada, Mexico and China.
CNN obtained a White House document on the legislation which says: “Under the HALT Fentanyl Act, anyone who possesses, imports, distributes, or manufactures any illicit FRS (fentanyl-related substances) will be subject to criminal prosecution in the same manner as any other Schedule I controlled substance.”
On Saturday, Trump announced the imposition of 30% tariffs on Mexican imports as of Aug. 1, asserting that Mexico is not doing enough to prevent the region from becoming a “Narco-Trafficking Playground.”
Mexico reacted quickly to Trump’s tariff announcement saying it was already taking steps to address the matter.
On Monday, Sheinbaum responded by saying the U.S. must “do its part” with regard to the fentanyl crisis, particularly recognizing the demand resulting from the rise in addiction among youth in the U.S.
“As long as they fail to recognize that they have a serious public health problem, this will never be solved,” she said.
The newspaper La Jornada noted that Trump placed the blame for the opioid crisis exclusively on Mexico and the drug cartels, ignoring the role that addiction plays.
Indeed, the first guest invited to speak at the bill-signing ceremony was a man whose son overdosed on fentanyl after getting addicted to opioids, not by illicit drugs but via drugs prescribed by a hospital.
The Mexican president also said the U.S. must do more with regard to the pursuit of suspects on its side of the border and the flow of weapons into Mexico.
“We have long insisted that matters related to controlling the flow of weapons from the U.S. into Mexico must be addressed,” she said, adding that more must be done with regard to the arrest of those involved in drug trafficking in the United States.
With reports from El Economista, La Jornada, Reforma and CNN
Calm, cool, and collected! Gotta love la Presidenta! President Trump could take a few lessons from her!
Aye
Presidenta Sheinbaum always puts the toddler to shame. She responds to every situation with a cool head, is diplomatic and dignified. A true leader!
Amen
Amen
More like co-conspirators.
Maybe we should be thank Trump for his hard headed approach. In the end, Mexico will be a safer place. It’s unlikely the government would have lifted a finger to seriously crack down on the cartels if not for Trump. Amlo’s approach fueled the fire , and sleepy Joe invited em to the party. The Donald’ is neither playful nor political. He doesn’t mask his feelings. He’s probably the most transparent President of any country. Ain’t no political patty cake here . A courageous guy that’s stubbornly committed to protect his country and fulfill his campaign promises.
Viva la Trump!
And most importantly, make a lot of money. MTGA.
Fact is Trump’s net-worth has dropped by 1.2 billion dollars after entering politics.
I find it somewhat insulting that you give President Sheinbaum zero credit for what she has done on this issue thus far (which is much more than what AMLO ever did) only to shower praise for the results entirely on Trump. I am continually amazed by the credit Trump supporters are willing to give him for most anything while at the same time holding him accountable for almost nothing.
Gracias!! Your response is spot on, speaking volumes. Especially the last sentence.
Señor Bembenek I agree with you 💯 % and admire your willingness to state this in your paper! Good job and stay strong 💪 🤘 👍
Bless your heart.
F**K trump…. what a sick being he is. Can’t move forward from past leaderships and focus on bringing the country back together. Everything is a “hoax ” or a “lie” if it suggests or proves his actions and lies expose his true evil, nasty, narcissistic self. Soooo embarrassing to admit you’re American anywhere in this world.
Me gusta a decir…. soy americana pero mi sangre y corazón están mexicanas! VIVA MEXICO 🇲🇽❤️🇲🇽🙏🙏🙏
Keep your head in the sand and suffer, the rest of us are coming together and moving on the the new golden era. TDS is real, we will pray for you.
Got it right@
I don’t credit trump with much (because most of his ideas are disastrous) however “credit where credit’s due”. On this narrow subject the trump cultist Randy is correct that the Mexican government wouldn’t have lifted a finger to crack down on the cartels if not for the economic threats from north of the border. There has been good reporting that the crackdown has been significant. It’s obviously a small step in ameliorating the massive problem of narco control of this country, but it’s significant.
Agree 100%. For the most part, Trump is a huge disaster for the US- in this one instance, I think he’s making some great change.
Won’t move, without President Trump!
Mentiras. No puede existir la adicción a la droga sin la droga.
Truth!
Stop all dr8from China!
We can expect more of these false accusations as Canada and Mexico make plans to grow and develop without the US.
OK keep telling yourself that. Dividing our countries helps on one.
The convicted felon and adjudicated rapist has admitted he is sick. It shows in his reliance on repeated bullying and lies. Presidenta Sheinbaum continues to be the adult in the room and the paragon of what a real leader should be. Brava!
No one is listing to your propaganda anymore. Unite we stand divided we fall.
Interestingly, nobody mentions that Trump is petrified of the military industrial cartel in the United States. After promising during the election campaign of reducing government borrowing, the first executive order signed was a $1 trillion defense budget on borrowed money. Nobody asks the question out of the 350 million dumb Americans, when was the United States’s last attacked on its own territory that would warrant a defense budget… Lol.
State strong for Mexico, Señora Presidenta! I’m sick of people in power
around the world giving into the orders of a delusional, bullying Nazi with dreams of global domination. Who is he to tell other world leaders what to do? A 32 times convicted felon, convicted sexual assaulter, who has filed for bankruptcy 6 times thinks HE’s in charge of the world? There are MANY more intelligent, ethical, and experienced leaders in other countries who are fully capable of successfully leading their countries. He’s leading the US into total collapse. No one else should give in to his demands. Especially Mexico.
How much kool aid did you drink?👍👍👍🙏
TDS is real. Drink up 🤡
Yep, #FDT. Raise your hand if ya love Sheinbaum as much as I do!!
The US has its own cartel, headed by the felon Trump, and its members wear masks, no identifications, and enjoy rounding up and imprisoning innocent working folks of color. They are everywhere and soon they will be killing each other too!
And it is called ICE!
You probably still ware a mask alone in your car.
I love Claudia..an amazing Presidenta. Seems to be taking on the cartels in ways not done before. I cannot wait until something serious is done about the gun smuggling into Mexico.