President Donald Trump issued strong statements against Mexican cartels, asserting that his administration has neutralized 97% of the drugs entering the United States by sea and that it will now begin a new phase of direct actions “on the ground” to combat organized crime.
In his remarks, Trump stated that the cartels are “governing Mexico,” calling it “very sad” what, in his view, has happened to the neighboring country under the control of these criminal organizations. The president argued that drugs coming from Mexico are responsible for the deaths of between 250,000 and 300,000 people each year in the United States, a figure he said reflects the scale of the crisis and the brutality of drug trafficking.
Trump described drugs as “something horrible” that has devastated entire families, causing the loss of children, parents, and even older adults. He emphasized that while even a single death would be unacceptable, his administration has managed to reduce the numbers, highlighting progress both in fighting drug trafficking and in strengthening border control.
In that context, the president recalled that the southern border had been “a total disaster” for years, but said he closed it effectively during his first administration and, according to him, with even stronger results in this new phase. “Now the borders are truly closed: they can’t get in, nobody gets in, and nobody even tries,” he declared, describing the situation as unprecedented.
The contrast with the current Mexican administration is evident. Despite constant warnings about the power of the cartels, the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum has maintained a position that minimizes the threat posed by drug trafficking and avoids direct confrontation with these criminal organizations, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the regional fight against organized crime.
The president’s message reinforces a narrative of direct confrontation with transnational organized crime and sets the tone for a new stage in U.S. anti-drug policy, emphasizing more aggressive actions and increasing pressure on Mexico to confront the cartels that, according to Trump, have overwhelmed the state and spread violence on both sides of the border.
