U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had offered to deploy American troops to Mexico to help combat drug cartels—a proposal Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly rejected. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he would be "honored" to assist Mexico in dismantling drug trafficking operations, describing the cartels as “horrible people” responsible for thousands of deaths.
Trump’s comments followed Sheinbaum’s disclosure on Saturday that she had declined the offer, asserting that “sovereignty is not for sale.” She emphasized that while Mexico is open to bilateral cooperation with the U.S. on issues like border security and drug trafficking, it would “never accept the presence of the United States military in our territory.”
In response to a reporter's question, Trump expressed disappointment in Sheinbaum’s refusal, stating, “I think she’s a lovely woman… but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can’t even think straight.” His remarks come amid rising political pressure on both nations to curb cartel-related violence and drug smuggling, particularly across the U.S.-Mexico border.
A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson told Reuters that Trump had repeatedly communicated the urgency for Mexico to act more aggressively against drug gangs. The NSC added that the U.S. remained willing to support Mexican efforts.
Trump has previously suggested the U.S. could take unilateral military action if Mexico fails to address the cartel threat. The two leaders have reportedly spoken multiple times in recent months about security cooperation, trade, and immigration policy.
The exchange underscores growing tensions between the U.S. and Mexico over sovereignty and cross-border security strategies, as the region faces mounting pressure from transnational criminal networks.