Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on 19 June pushed back against remarks by US President Donald Trump, who declared at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, that drug cartels are 'totally running Mexico' and called Sheinbaum 'a very scared woman.' Speaking at her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Sheinbaum chose restraint over confrontation, declining to be drawn into a public spat with Washington.

Sheinbaum's Response

The Mexican president dismissed Trump's remarks as familiar territory. 'He has said it before,' she noted, adding that 'President Trump has his own way of communicating; we shouldn't get hung up on every statement.' She also said Trump 'is not well-informed,' while firmly defending her government's security strategy and the commitment of her cabinet to fighting crime.

Sheinbaum cited official figures indicating a decline in intentional homicides and a drop in other violence indicators, presenting the data as evidence that her administration's approach is producing results. She also rejected any external measures that could, in her view, jeopardise Mexico's sovereignty.

What Trump Said at the G7

At the gathering in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains on Wednesday, Trump made a series of pointed claims about Mexico. He asserted that drug smuggling by water had fallen by more than 90 percent, and that the primary concern now was narcotics entering the United States by land. 'They come through Mexico,' he said. 'Mexico has lost control of their country. The cartels control Mexico, and it's sad.'

Trump described Sheinbaum as 'a good woman but a scared woman,' and said the cartels were 'totally running Mexico' — remarks that drew immediate attention given the already strained state of bilateral relations.

Rising Tensions in the Bilateral Relationship

The exchange comes at a particularly sensitive moment in US-Mexico relations. Sheinbaum's government has been navigating pressure from Washington over several senior Mexican politicians who face US indictments or are under investigation for alleged ties to drug cartels. Her administration has so far resisted handing over or fully cooperating on these cases, framing its position as a defence of national sovereignty.

This is not the first time Trump has used a multilateral forum to publicly pressure Mexico on cartel-related issues, and analysts note the pattern reflects a broader US strategy of keeping Mexico on the defensive ahead of any further trade or security negotiations.

What Comes Next

Diplomatic observers will be watching whether the G7 remarks translate into concrete US policy moves — such as fresh tariff threats or expanded sanctions — or remain in the register of political signalling. Sheinbaum's measured tone suggests Mexico City is, for now, choosing de-escalation, though her government's protection of indicted officials remains a live flashpoint in the relationship.