President-elect Donald Trump shared that he recently had a phone call with Mexico’s new President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, and according to him, it was a productive one. Trump announced that Sheinbaum has agreed to take action to curb migration through Mexico and into the U.S., a step he’s been pushing hard for. The discussion comes on the heels of Trump’s threats to slap steep tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods if they don’t do more to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Trump, who has been vocal about his frustrations with Mexico’s handling of these issues, said Sheinbaum’s pledge could help “close our Southern Border” and reduce the flow of illegal drugs into the country. He shared his excitement about their talk on Truth Social, calling it “wonderful.” He added that they also discussed the broader issue of drug consumption in the U.S. and potential solutions.
Sheinbaum, for her part, gave a slightly different spin on their conversation. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she described the exchange as “excellent” and emphasized collaboration on security. She reiterated Mexico’s focus on addressing migration with a strategy that respects human rights. She also clarified that while Mexico is taking steps to manage migration, closing borders isn’t the country’s approach. Instead, she advocates for building partnerships and understanding between governments.
However, Sheinbaum wasn’t shy about warning Trump that Mexico is prepared to fight back if the U.S. imposes tariffs. “If there are U.S. tariffs, Mexico would also raise tariffs,” she said earlier this week.
Trump’s push for stronger border measures also extends to addressing the fentanyl crisis, which has caused devastating loss of life in the U.S. He pointed to China’s role in supplying chemical precursors for fentanyl production, which he claims is being processed in Mexico and smuggled across the border by cartels. To combat this, Trump floated the idea of an additional 10% tariff on China as leverage to curb the drug trade.
Fentanyl is an incredibly potent synthetic opioid, up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Tragically, it has played a major role in the rising number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. Trump said he plans to launch a nationwide ad campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, hoping to save lives by spreading the word about the drug’s deadly impact.
The drama around Trump’s tariff threats has also caught the attention of China. A state-run Chinese newspaper dismissed his justification for the proposed tariffs as “far-fetched,” underscoring the growing tensions between the U.S. and China over trade and security issues.
As the world watches, it’s clear Trump is doubling down on his strategy to use tariffs as a bargaining chip. Whether this tough stance will lead to the changes he’s seeking remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—his presidency is already shaping up to be as bold and confrontational as his campaign promised.
