President Donald Trump has taken aim at Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for turning down his offer to send U.S. military forces into Mexico to help fight the country’s powerful drug cartels.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he extended the offer as part of an effort to dismantle the criminal organizations fueling the fentanyl crisis and cross-border violence. He suggested Sheinbaum’s rejection was driven by fear of the cartels, calling her unwillingness to accept help a serious mistake.
Trump emphasized the urgency of the issue, noting the deadly impact of drugs pouring into the United States. He stated that if Mexico were to request assistance, the U.S. would respond immediately and forcefully to take down cartel operations.
President Sheinbaum responded by reaffirming Mexico’s stance on maintaining national sovereignty. While she welcomed bilateral cooperation in intelligence and law enforcement, she made it clear that foreign troops would not be permitted on Mexican soil.
The sharp disagreement has renewed debate over how best to address cartel violence, with Trump pushing for direct intervention and Mexico standing firm on its independent approach. The standoff underscores deep divisions in how the two nations view security cooperation amid escalating threats at the border.