President-elect Donald Trump announced a significant breakthrough in curbing illegal immigration following a conversation with Mexico’s new President, Claudia Sheinbaum. Trump claimed they reached an agreement to close the southern border and tackle drug trafficking.
“Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “She has agreed to stop migration through Mexico and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border.” Trump also noted discussions on addressing drug inflows and U.S. drug consumption, calling the exchange “very productive.”
Hours later, Sheinbaum presented a starkly different account of the discussion. In a post on X, she said she explained Mexico’s approach to migration, emphasizing human rights and assistance to migrants before they reach the U.S. border.
“We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and peoples,” Sheinbaum wrote in Spanish.
The conflicting narratives have sparked speculation. Critics suggest Sheinbaum might be misrepresenting the conversation to avoid appearing to yield to U.S. demands. Others argue she could have given Trump misleading assurances during the call to undermine his position.
Sheinbaum has faced scrutiny for her political stances, including supporting welfare state policies and attributing issues like poverty to neoliberal economic systems. She has also criticized U.S. involvement in cartel violence and the fentanyl crisis while threatening retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump’s proposed penalties for Mexico’s handling of migration.
The disagreement underscores potential diplomatic hurdles ahead as Trump’s administration prepares to implement stricter border measures. The mixed messages suggest that securing cooperation from Mexico may prove more complicated than initially claimed.
