Trump Responds After Mexican President Turns Down Military Offer

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly rejected an offer from US President Donald Trump to deploy American troops in Mexico, a move she said would infringe upon Mexican sovereignty, and this triggered a sharp rebuke from Trump.

Quick Takes

Trump proposed US troops in Mexico to combat cartels; Sheinbaum rejected the offer.
Sheinbaum emphasized sovereignty and opposed US military presence.
Trump accused Sheinbaum of fear of cartels influencing her decision.
Sheinbaum has permitted US drone flights but rejected troop deployment.
Relations could strain despite past cooperation on trade and immigration.

Rejecting the Trump Proposal

President Donald Trump recently proposed sending US troops across the border to address the drug cartel violence in Mexico. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum staunchly refused the offer, citing concerns over sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sheinbaum highlighted that collaborative efforts and information sharing between the two nations would be acceptable, but she drew the line at allowing US troops to operate on Mexican soil.

“The territory cannot be violated. Sovereignty cannot be sold. Sovereignty is cherished and defended,” Sheinbaum said, adding that Mexico will “never accept the presence of the United States’ army in our territory.”

'She can't even think straight': #Trump blasts Mexico's #Sheinbaum for rejecting offer to send US troops into Mexico to fight cartelshttps://t.co/KiIJ1JGnDl

— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) May 6, 2025

Trump’s Response and Accusations

Trump did not mince words in his response to Sheinbaum’s rejection. Trump confirmed that Sheinbaum had declined his proposal, criticizing her for what he argued is an unwillingness to confront the drug cartels directly. He accused Sheinbaum of being “afraid of the cartels” in his response.

“Well she’s so afraid of the cartels she can’t walk, so you know that’s the reason,” Trump said.

The increased military presence along the US-Mexico border underscores Trump’s stance against drug smuggling and undocumented immigration. By designating several cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations,” Trump aimed to strengthen US law enforcement action.

Strained Relations and Sovereignty Concerns

This development may exacerbate tensions between the US and Mexico, complicating the bilateral relations that had seen cooperation on immigration and trade. Despite deploying 10,000 Mexican soldiers to the US border back in February amid tariff threats, Sheinbaum has expressed an unwillingness to change course on US military intervention in Mexico. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that in April, a call between Sheinbaum and Trump resulted in increased tensions due to disagreements on the issue.