Trump sorts through border issues in chat with Mexico’s president

A Thanksgiving talk between President-elect Donald Trump and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo may have stymied tariff threats between the two countries. 

“We discussed Mexico’s strategy on the migration phenomenon, and I shared that caravans are not arriving at the northern border because they are being taken care of in Mexico,” wrote Sheinbaum on her Twitter account. “We also discussed strengthening collaboration on security issues within the framework of our sovereignty and the campaign we are carrying out in the country to prevent the consumption of fentanyl.”

Recently, Trump promised tariff hikes on goods coming from Mexico, Canada, and China on the first day of his administration. 

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 percent Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Trump posted last week on his Truth Social platform. “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

The move, Trump said would be in retaliation for illegal immigration, crime, and drugs coming across the border from Mexico. Sheinbaum responded at the time that Mexico was doing its part, suggesting that the country would retaliate with its own tariffs.

“One tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses,” Sheinbaum noted, in reference to automakers with plants on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Just a few days later, after the conversation with Sheinbaum, Trump stated that Sheinbaum agreed to measures that would stop migration through Mexico.

“She agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border,” Trump wrote in another Truth Social post.

Sheinbaum, however, provided a different account of the discussion. She said her government was already managing migrant caravans and dismissed the notion of closing Mexico’s borders.

“We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples,” Sheinbaum stated.

She also clarified that her conversation with Trump reassured her there would not be a tariff war.

“Each person has their own way of communicating,” Sheinbaum said. “But I can assure you, I guarantee you, that we never — additionally, we would be incapable of doing so — proposed that we would close the border in the north [of Mexico], or in the south of the United States.”

Trump’s tariff threats are part of his broader strategy to address drug trafficking and illegal immigration. Sheinbaum said her government has initiatives to manage migrant flows and resources aimed at Central America. She also noted that drug-related challenges, such as fentanyl smuggling, are tied to broader issues involving U.S.-made weapons crossing into Mexico.

Trump called his talks with Sheinbaum “very productive” and described the discussions as a victory in his efforts to address border issues.

“This was effectively closing our Southern Border,” he said.

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