President Claudia Sheinbaum denied discussing the extradition of Mexican politicians linked to narcotrafficking with Donald Trump, responding to a Wall Street Journal report. In her morning press conference on January 14, 2026, she also declined to debate Trump's statements calling the USMCA irrelevant.
In her morning press conference on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, President Claudia Sheinbaum categorically rejected claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting U.S. pressures to extradite Mexican politicians, mainly from Morena, linked to organized crime. "Eso dicen, algunos medios que, la verdad, inventan. Recientemente, no sé, el reportaje del Wall Street Journal, que no sé exactamente qué planteó, que venía… Nada que ver con lo que se habló en la llamada, ni se ha planteado nunca", Sheinbaum stated.
The WSJ article, by journalist José Córdoba, indicated that after Nicolás Maduro's capture in a U.S. military operation in Venezuela, Mexican officials analyzed scenarios regarding alleged Trump demands, including actions against her party's politicians. Maduro declared innocence on narcotrafficking charges. Sheinbaum stressed that dialogue with the U.S. on security, migration, and organized crime occurs only through institutional channels and with respect for Mexican sovereignty, amid Trump's threats of ground interventions against cartels.
On the USMCA, Sheinbaum responded to Trump's Detroit remarks calling it "irrelevant" and stating the U.S. does not need products from Mexico or Canada. "Quienes más defienden el tratado son los empresarios de Estados Unidos. Por supuesto, México también porque hay una integración muy grande", the president noted, convinced the trade relationship will endure. She also denied discussing canceled visas for Morena officials with Trump: "Nunca se ha tocado ese tema, ni en las reuniones ni en las llamadas".
These exchanges underscore tensions in bilateral relations, with Mexico insisting on respectful cooperation while facing pressures on trade and security issues.
