Fox news viewers meltdown over Trump Mexico threats | US | News
The US president signaled that military action could go beyond naval operations, raising new questions about Washington’s approach to drug trafficking and relations with Mexico.
US President Donald Trump appears to be choosing Mexico as a potential focus as he says he may expand military strikes from the sea to targets on land linked to drug trafficking. Speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News on Thursday night, Trump noted what he described as the effectiveness of recent attacks on boats that his administration says are used by drug traffickers.
These operations follow months of increased U.S. naval activity, culminating in the weekend capture and transfer of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife to New York.
Trump said the focus may now shift south of the US border, which is likely to alarm Mexico.
“We destroyed 97 percent of waterborne drugs,” Trump told Hannity. “And now we’re going to start getting to grips with the cartels.”
He continued, “The cartels rule Mexico. It’s very sad to watch and see what’s happening in this country. They kill 250,000, 300,000 people every year in our country. Drugs are terrible, they destroy families.”
Mexico underestimates military threat
Despite Washington’s harsh language, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum tried to minimize concerns about possible US incursions into Mexican territory.
“I don’t see the risks (of this),” ABC quoted Sheinbaum as saying on Monday. “There is coordination, there is cooperation with the US government.”
“I don’t believe in (the possibility of) invasion, I don’t even believe it’s something they take seriously,” he said. “Organized crime is not solved by (foreign military) intervention.”
Sheinbaum acknowledged that US military intervention had been brought up repeatedly in meetings with Trump, but said he had consistently rejected the idea. He called it a non-starter and insisted his relationship with the US president was based on mutual respect.
Threats seen as negotiation tactics
Trump and senior figures around him have been raising the possibility of hitting Mexican cartels since the election campaign, although often in different tones. Analysts say the threats are similar to previous warnings about tariffs on Mexican imports, some of which have been implemented and some of which have not.
These moves are described as a “negotiating weapon” designed to gain “commercial, diplomatic and political advantages,” Mexican security analyst David Saucedo told ABC. He said Rubio and Trump were playing “good cop, bad cop”, with Trump making threats and Rubio trying to mend relations.
Experts say Mexico has largely complied with U.S. demands since the tariffs were introduced, with the Sheinbaum administration increasing arrests, drug seizures and extraditions and agreeing to more deportations than other countries.
Risks of breaking cooperation
Analysts have warned that direct US military intervention would jeopardize existing cooperation between the two countries.
“Military action and intervention in Mexico would suspend this cooperation,” said Carlos Pérez Ricart, a political analyst at Mexico’s Center for Economic Research and Education (CIDE), according to the ABC report. He added that such a move would deprive Washington of a key partner.
Saucedo stated that the cost of military action would be much higher than rhetorical threats, and noted that “a comment, a post on social networks costs nothing” and has been proven to be effective.
With negotiations on tariffs and a review of the USMCA trade agreement, analysts expect the pressure to continue. Trump could push for greater access to U.S. security agencies, demand high-profile arrests or threaten new economic measures, Saucedo said.
Uncertainty continues
Former Mexican ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhán warned that Mexico must tread carefully in overlapping trade, security and diplomatic talks.
“With ongoing negotiations on punitive tariffs, the legal overhaul of the USMCA, and the sensitive anti-drug cooperation agenda, the Mexican government will need to be very rigorous in its position and statements,” he said.
He added that supporting Maduro or continuing support for Cuba could have serious consequences for Mexico.
Bárcena said Mexico must continue to fight political corruption linked to organized crime while upholding international law.
Although most observers viewed US military intervention as unlikely, the possibility was not ruled out.
“The United States does not operate with rational logic,” Pérez Ricart said. “All possibilities are open now, including those that were unimaginable a year ago.”
Social media reaction
Trump’s words about Fox Ness quickly sparked reaction from viewers on social media.
One X user Mary Valerio wrote: “YES! Let’s go!”
Another user, EM727, questioned the implications of the comments and posted: “So they’re going to target drug traffickers on the ground? Bomb Langley?”
Citing political ramifications, user True Woman wrote: “Half the Congress is sponsored by the cartels. They’re going to be pissed.”
Others expressed support for Trump’s approach. User @adent42 wrote: “It sucks that Trump had to do in 4 years everything we’ve been begging presidents to do for the last 40 years.”
Lisabeth S. Williamson added: “It does wonderful things for meek people.”
