The Mexican government is reportedly considering legal action against Elon Musk after the tech billionaire suggested on his X platform that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was influenced by drug cartels. The remark came in the wake of deadly violence triggered by the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNGC), by Mexican security forces in Jalisco on Sunday.
El Mencho’s death sparked widespread chaos across the country, with armed cartel supporters setting cars on fire and establishing roadblocks. Officials reported that most of the disruptions were cleared by Monday, though some roads and bus routes in Jalisco remained affected. In total, Mexican authorities said at least 70 people died in the military operation and the violence that followed.
Musk’s comment, reacting to a resurfaced clip of Sheinbaum stating that an all-out war against cartels was off the table, read: “She’s just saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say.” Sheinbaum dismissed the claim as “absurd” and said government lawyers were exploring possible legal options. She emphasized that her focus remains on public opinion, stating, “What matters to me is what the people say.”
The controversy comes amid mounting pressure from the United States for Mexico to address drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, across the border. President Donald Trump’s administration has continued operations against alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Sheinbaum had ruled out renewed armed action against cartels in November, shortly after the assassination of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, who opposed organized crime, sparking public outrage.
Historically, Mexico’s approach to cartel violence has varied. Former President Felipe Calderón launched a military crackdown on cartels in 2006, which led to a surge in homicides. Subsequent administrations, including Sheinbaum’s predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, adopted a softer “hugs, not bullets” strategy. Despite this, the killing of El Mencho was hailed as a significant victory for Mexican security forces, supported by U.S. intelligence.
Following the operation, an associate of El Mencho, known as El Tuli, was killed after attempting to escape southwest of Guadalajara. Authorities said El Tuli had offered monetary rewards for attacks on law enforcement and soldiers and had incited post-El Mencho violence.
By early Wednesday, most daily activity and flights had resumed, though a curfew remained in place for U.S. personnel in Jalisco. Mexican authorities continued to remove roadblocks and burnt vehicles, with some transport services still disrupted. The violent events and Musk’s controversial tweet have reignited scrutiny of Mexico’s ongoing battle against organized crime and the political sensitivities surrounding it.
