Mexico urges US to halt firearms trafficking amid tensions with Trump
“There is something that the US can help us a lot with: stop the trafficking of illegal weapons from the US to Mexico,” Sheinbaum said. She added, “If they stopped the entry of illegal weapons from the United States into Mexico, then these groups wouldn't have access to this type of high-powered weaponry to carry out their criminal activities,”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called on the United States to stop the illegal trafficking of firearms into Mexico, responding to former President Donald Trump's description of her country as the "epicenter of cartel violence."
"There is something that the US can help us a lot with: stop the trafficking of illegal weapons from the US to Mexico," Sheinbaum said. She added, "If they stopped the entry of illegal weapons from the United States into Mexico, then these groups wouldn't have access to this type of high-powered weaponry to carry out their criminal activities," says The Guardian.
The exchange followed Trump's "Shield of Americas" summit in Miami, where he announced a "counter-cartel coalition" and said, "The Mexican cartels are fueling and orchestrating much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere and the United States government will do whatever is necessary to defend our national security." Trump also referred to Sheinbaum as a "beautiful woman" with a "beautiful voice."
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Trump described Mexico as the "epicenter of cartel violence" and claimed he offered to help eradicate the cartels, prompting Sheinbaum to respond, "No, no, no, please, president." Sheinbaum said she welcomed Trump's public acknowledgment of Mexico's rejection, stating, "It's good that President Trump publicly says that when he has proposed that the United States military enter Mexico, we have said no... Because it's the truth."
The tensions reflect longstanding legal and political friction. Mexico previously attempted to sue American gunmakers for negligent marketing in 2021, but the US Supreme Court dismissed the suit in 2025.
Mexican political analyst Viri Ríos challenged Trump's characterization of Mexico, saying, "The epicenter of cartel violence is not Mexico, it's the United States." She added, "The cartels are fueled by the United States' demand for drugs and armed with US weapons, and thanks to the United States, they are able to orchestrate enormous bloodshed and chaos throughout Latin America."
