Former US President Donald Trump confirmed that he offered to send American troops to Mexico to fight drug cartels. This offer was recently made public by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and subsequently rejected.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route from Florida, Trump stated that he made the offer because he considers the cartels to be “terrible people.” “If Mexico asks for help regarding cartels, it would be an honor for me to go and do it,” he said. When asked about Sheinbaum’s refusal, Trump commented, “She’s a very nice woman, but she’s so afraid of cartels that she can’t think straight.” President Sheinbaum made this private meeting public over the weekend, emphasizing that Mexico’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. In response to a Wall Street Journal report that Trump is pushing for more military cooperation, Sheinbaum stated that they are open to cooperation but will never allow US troops to enter Mexican territory. A US National Security Council spokesperson, speaking to Reuters, said that Trump has long wanted Mexico to take stronger steps to combat drug trafficking and that the US is ready to support these efforts. The two leaders have reportedly met several times recently to discuss security, immigration, and trade.
