Mexican President Says She's 'Not Afraid' After Trump Says Mexico Is 'Run by Cartels': 'The People Support Me'

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that she is "not afraid" after U.S. President Donald Trump said Mexico is "run by cartels."

Trump made the comment while defending CIA drone flights over Mexico, which Sheinbaum later stated were organized in collaboration with the U.S., at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. "I have a very good relationship with Mexico, but I think Mexico is largely run by the cartels, and that's a sad thing to say. If they wanted help with that, we would give it to them," he told reporters on Tuesday.

He also accused Mexico of allowing "millions" of "criminals" from "jails all over the world" to come into the U.S.

At a press conference from the National Palace the following day, Sheinbaum responded to Trump. "No (I am not afraid), the people support me. When one has certainty and conviction, and knows what one's principles are, why would one be afraid? But, in addition, President Trump has his way of expressing himself," she said.

Sheinbaum also countered Trump's claims on how Mexico handles cartels. "They want to make us look like we are defending drug cartels or organized crime, of course not. When I was head of government (in Mexico City, 2018-2023) we reduced crime rates by more than 50% with a strategy, attention to the causes and reduction of impunity," she said.

On Wednesday, the State Department published an announcement dated February 6 that officially designated six Mexican cartels as terrorist groups: Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo and La Nueva Familia Michoacana. It also designated Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as terrorist groups.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared the announcement, which will be officially published in the Federal Register tomorrow, in a post on X.