Mexico City — President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump is “not well informed” about Mexico, pushing back against Trump’s claim that the country is controlled by organized crime and that she is afraid.
Speaking at her daily morning press conference, Sheinbaum responded to Trump’s remarks at the G7 summit in France, where he said Mexico had “lost control of the country” and that “the cartels rule.” Trump also claimed Sheinbaum was “very scared.”
“He is not well informed, I have told him personally, this is not the first time. The Mexican state exists,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum recalled a meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, during which she explained that the Mexican state is composed of multiple branches working to fight crime, from the presidency to the secretaries of security, navy, and defense.
“Every day they are dedicated to the protection of Mexico … And here are the results: a 46% reduction in homicides, a 70% reduction in fentanyl entering the United States by land,” she said.
Sheinbaum also emphasized that security personnel work with “love for the people and the country,” contrasting this with what she described as the neoliberal era, when public servants had their “eyes outside Mexico” and followed foreign guidelines.
“There is not only work, there is more than that: there is dedication, conviction, love for the people and love for the country,” she said.
Sheinbaum said she has conveyed all of this to Trump but will not engage in a personal debate with him. “He has his way of communicating. We must not get hooked on each of his statements … We are not going to enter into a personal debate with President Donald Trump; we defend our positions and seek the best possible relationship,” she said.
She also called on the United States to strengthen efforts to reduce arms trafficking into Mexico. “It would be very good if they did that on their territory because it is very important that they stop the entry of weapons,” she said.
