President Donald Trump disclosed Sunday that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declined his proposal to deploy American troops to Mexico for combating drug cartels, suggesting she was too frightened of the criminal organizations to accept assistance.
The revelation came during remarks Trump made to reporters while aboard Air Force One, where he discussed his recent interactions with the Mexican leader regarding cartel activity along the border.
“She’s so afraid of the cartels she can’t walk,” Trump stated bluntly about President Sheinbaum.
Despite this criticism, Trump acknowledged his personal respect for his Mexican counterpart, adding, “And I think she’s a lovely woman.”
“The president of Mexico is a lovely woman, but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can’t even think straight.”
Trump’s comments followed Sheinbaum’s confirmation that he had indeed pressured her during a phone conversation last month to permit greater U.S. military involvement in addressing Mexico’s cartel problem.
The Mexican president reported that she firmly rejected any such proposal during their call.
“No, President Trump, our territory is inalienable, sovereignty is inalienable,” Sheinbaum recounted telling Trump, as reported by Fox News.
She further elaborated on her position, stating, “We can collaborate. We can work together, but with you in your territory and us in ours.”
“We can share information, but we will never accept the presence of the United States Army on our territory.”
The exchange highlights growing tensions over border security and drug trafficking issues that have persisted between the neighboring countries.
Fox noted that since January, the United States has already bolstered its military presence along the U.S.-Mexico border following an executive order from President Trump aimed at curbing illegal immigration.
Beyond immigration concerns, Trump emphasized that American military resources are necessary to combat the flow of dangerous drugs, particularly fentanyl, being smuggled across the border by cartels.
“They are bad news,” Trump remarked Sunday in reference to the cartels.
“If Mexico wanted help with the cartels, we would be honored to go in and do it. I told her that I would be honored to go in and do it.”
The President underscored the severity of the threat posed by these organizations, saying, “The cartels are trying to destroy our country. They’re evil.”
Fox further noted that in response to these ongoing concerns, U.S. Northern Command has already taken several actions, including deploying troops and equipment to the southern border and increasing manned surveillance flights to monitor fentanyl trafficking.
The command has also sought expanded authority for U.S. Special Forces to collaborate more closely with Mexican forces during anti-cartel operations.
Taking further action against these criminal organizations, Trump designated numerous gangs and cartels involved in drug smuggling into the United States as “foreign terrorist organizations” in February, a classification that provides law enforcement with enhanced resources to combat these groups.
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