Agreeing to disagree seems to summarize the outcome of Wednesday’s phone call between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The conversation, which took place two days after Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico, was described by the Republican as “wonderful” and “very productive” in a post on Truth Social. Trump highlighted discussions on border control and drug trafficking with his Latin Amerian counterpart, yet the accounts provided by the two leaders quickly diverged.
Trump asserted that Mexico had agreed to halt migration to the United States: “Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately. THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD STOPPING THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THE USA.”
In contrast, Sheinbaum, in a post on X, confirmed the conversation but made clear that Mexico would not seal its borders. “I explained to President Trump the comprehensive strategy Mexico has implemented to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights. Thanks to this approach, migrants and caravans are assisted before reaching the border,” she wrote, emphasizing Mexico’s commitment to building bridges rather than barriers.
The Mexican leader also rejected any coercive measures. During a press conference, she cautioned Trump against triggering a trade war that could harm both nations’ economies. “Migration and drug consumption in the U.S. will not be solved with threats or tariffs,” Sheinbaum declared, reading from a letter addressed to the president-elect.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of cooperation to combat drug trafficking, particularly the spread of fentanyl. Sheinbaum stressed Mexico’s ongoing efforts to curb the use of the synthetic opioid, noting that her government is conducting a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about its dangers.
Trump, for his part, also announced plans for a large-scale public information campaign in the United States aimed at reducing fentanyl consumption. “Millions of lives are being so needlessly destroyed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “By the time the campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this drug is.”
The tariff threat is not new for Mexico, which faced a similar situation in 2018 when Trump pressured then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador into intensifying immigration enforcement in exchange for avoiding punitive measures.
Sheinbaum, however, appears less willing to follow her predecessor’s conciliatory approach. The Mexican president placed part of the blame for the drug crisis on the United States, pointing to American consumption and gun manufacturing. “We don’t produce weapons, nor do we consume synthetic drugs. The victims of drug-related violence, driven by demand in your country, tragically fall on our shoulders,” Sheinbaum said.
Earlier in the day, Sheinbaum had already signaled her readiness to push back against Washington’s tariff provocations, distancing herself from the more accommodating stance taken by her mentor, López Obrador.
