Ever since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Mexico is heavily influenced by drug cartels, at times suggesting Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum lacks full control over parts of the country.
As diplomatic tensions between Washington and Mexico remain strained following the recent indictment of Sinaloa officials accused of working closely with the Sinaloa Cartel and for Los Chapitos, Sheinbaum publicly defended her administration, saying Trump's public comments differ sharply from what the two leaders discuss privately during phone calls.
