Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she is considering legal action against Elon Musk after the tech entrepreneur accused her of being linked to drug cartels. The dispute stems from a 2025 video in which Sheinbaum discussed cartel-related violence, prompting Musk to post that she was “saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say.”
Speaking at her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum said government lawyers are reviewing the possibility of a defamation claim, though she acknowledged that pursuing action in the United States could be difficult due to strong free speech protections, per GB News.
In the original 2025 video, Sheinbaum stated that a return to a “war on drugs” would not be feasible. “Returning to the war on drugs is not an option… it is outside the framework of the law,” she said, referencing past operations such as former president Felipe Calderón’s 2006 “Operation Michoacán,” which sparked years of violent clashes between cartels and military forces.
Sheinbaum said during Wednesday's briefing that her government will continue efforts to stabilize regions affected by cartel violence following the capture and killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.” “We are looking for peace, not war,” she said, ruling out a renewed military-style crackdown.
Morena Party president Luisa Alcalde also weighed in, criticizing Musk’s post. “Wealth does not give moral authority,” she said, urging the SpaceX chief to use his platform to combat drug consumption, addiction, disinformation, and the promotion of narco culture rather than targeting public officials.
The violence in Mexico has been significant. CJNG members have blockaded roads, hijacked vehicles, and set fires to local businesses following Oseguera’s death.
At least six cartel members died during the operation that killed Oseguera, while three military personnel were injured. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported 30 cartel members killed overall, alongside a prison guard and an official from the state prosecutor’s office. As many as 25 members of Mexico's national guard were killed in the operation and aftermath as well.
Earlier reports from May of 2025 indicated that President Donald Trump urged Sheinbaum to allow US troops into Mexico to fight the cartels, a proposal she firmly rejected.
“No, President Trump, our territory is inalienable, sovereignty is inalienable… We can collaborate, we can work together, but with you in your territory and us in ours,” she said.
Speaking at her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum said government lawyers are reviewing the possibility of a defamation claim, though she acknowledged that pursuing action in the United States could be difficult due to strong free speech protections, per GB News.
In the original 2025 video, Sheinbaum stated that a return to a “war on drugs” would not be feasible. “Returning to the war on drugs is not an option… it is outside the framework of the law,” she said, referencing past operations such as former president Felipe Calderón’s 2006 “Operation Michoacán,” which sparked years of violent clashes between cartels and military forces.
Sheinbaum said during Wednesday's briefing that her government will continue efforts to stabilize regions affected by cartel violence following the capture and killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.” “We are looking for peace, not war,” she said, ruling out a renewed military-style crackdown.
Morena Party president Luisa Alcalde also weighed in, criticizing Musk’s post. “Wealth does not give moral authority,” she said, urging the SpaceX chief to use his platform to combat drug consumption, addiction, disinformation, and the promotion of narco culture rather than targeting public officials.
The violence in Mexico has been significant. CJNG members have blockaded roads, hijacked vehicles, and set fires to local businesses following Oseguera’s death.
At least six cartel members died during the operation that killed Oseguera, while three military personnel were injured. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported 30 cartel members killed overall, alongside a prison guard and an official from the state prosecutor’s office. As many as 25 members of Mexico's national guard were killed in the operation and aftermath as well.
Earlier reports from May of 2025 indicated that President Donald Trump urged Sheinbaum to allow US troops into Mexico to fight the cartels, a proposal she firmly rejected.
“No, President Trump, our territory is inalienable, sovereignty is inalienable… We can collaborate, we can work together, but with you in your territory and us in ours,” she said.
