Trump criticizes Mexico's cartel response despite cooperation
According to Hoy Tamaulipas, Trump questioned Mexico's ability to confront cartels while acknowledging cooperation with Sheinbaum. The outlet reported his claimed 67% reduction in cross-border fentanyl flows without a stated comparison period or supporting official data in the remarks.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Mexico was unable to combat drug cartels and claimed the groups controlled the country, while acknowledging continued security cooperation with President Claudia Sheinbaum's government, according to Hoy Tamaulipas.
Trump said his administration was stepping up pressure on drug-trafficking organizations and that further operations would become more difficult. He said he had raised his concerns about the cartels' influence directly with Sheinbaum.
Hoy Tamaulipas reported that Trump also claimed his government had reduced fentanyl flows into the United States across the Mexican border by 67%. The outlet noted that the remarks did not specify a comparison period or provide official data to substantiate that figure.
Trump said U.S. authorities knew trafficking routes and the locations of cartel members, and described the operations as only beginning. His assertions about cartel control were his assessment; Hoy Tamaulipas did not present an independent assessment of territorial control.
The report placed the remarks about three weeks after Trump's address to the United Nations General Assembly, where he described Mexico as the epicenter of drug trafficking and called on Sheinbaum's government to regain control of its territory.
Despite his criticism of Mexico's capabilities, Trump said Washington continued working with the Mexican administration. The report described the remarks as another source of security tensions between governments that maintain cooperation against drug trafficking and organized crime.
Original report: Hoy Tamaulipas