Mexico’s government is pushing back against claims made in the bestselling book The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon, which alleges that Mexican consulates are interfering in U.S. domestic politics.
Since the book’s debut at the top of bestseller lists, Mexican officials have sought to dismiss its findings, including statements and documented comments from Mexican politicians and consular leaders.
In a statement released by her office, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denied the allegations.
“I categorically deny any involvement or attempt by Mexico to interfere in the internal affairs of the United States,” Sheinbaum said.
The book’s author, Peter Schweizer, has been invited to testify before the U.S. Senate in March about several of the book’s claims. He recently addressed the Mexican government’s denials on his podcast, The Drill Down.
Schweizer argues that Mexico is using its network of 53 U.S. consulates to influence Mexican nationals living in the United States and shape U.S. policy.
“In the book, I quote the consular general of the Mexican consulate in Chicago saying, ‘We are joining forces with anti-Trump organizations to fight the Trump administration,’” Schweizer said. “He literally says that.”
On Sunday, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, responded to the allegations during an appearance on Sunday Morning Futures.
Moctezuma pointed to President Donald Trump’s growing support among Latino voters as evidence that Mexico is not influencing U.S. elections.
“The votes of Latinos for President Trump rose from 28 percent in 2016 to 48 percent in 2024,” Moctezuma said. “Mexican migration has been dropping constantly since 2000. The Mexican and United States governments are working very closely on the migratory issue.”
Schweizer rejected that argument.
“The notion that they love Trump is just laughable,” he said during an interview with co-host Eric Eggers.
He said Mexican officials appear unusually concerned about the book.
“Normally, they ignore books like this,” Schweizer said. “But they feel like they can’t ignore this one, especially after President Trump said everybody should read it.”
Neither Sheinbaum nor Moctezuma directly addressed specific examples cited in the book, instead offering broad denials.
Schweizer said journalists should press Mexican officials to respond to the documented evidence.
“They either need to fire a lot of people in the consulates, or they need to admit what they’re doing,” he said. “Which is trying to undermine the Trump agenda.”
He argued that Mexico has much to lose due to Trump’s border policies, tariffs, and actions against drug cartels.
Moctezuma also addressed the issue on a CBS program hosted by Major Garrett, offering what Schweizer described as a weak explanation centered on diplomatic protocols.
“That’s not the point we’re making at all,” Schweizer said.
Eggers noted that the attention surrounding The Invisible Coup marks a shift compared to Schweizer’s previous books, which were largely ignored by major media outlets.
He cited Schweizer’s earlier works, including Clinton Cash and Secret Empires, which raised questions about political corruption that were not widely covered for years.
“This time, people are paying attention,” Eggers said.
Schweizer said the growing scrutiny should lead to action from Congress and the Trump administration.
“We need action on Capitol Hill and from the White House,” he said. “And I think we’re finally moving in that direction.”
He added that the response from Mexican officials, even if dismissive, suggests the book has struck a nerve.
“They know this matters,” Schweizer said. “And that’s why they’re responding.”
