Mexico president says U.S. claim about cartel alliance is “slander,” vows to retaliate against Trump tariffs [Video]

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum angrily rejected an accusation by the United States Saturday that her government has an alliance with drug cartels, and vowed to retaliate against Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

Tensions between the closely connected neighbors soared after the White House said Trump would slap 25% tariffs on Mexican as well as Canadian goods because of illegal immigration and drug smuggling. However,  Mr. Trump announced Monday he is pausing U.S. tariffs targeting imports from Mexico for a month after Sheinbaum agreed to send 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to combat the flow of fentanyl.

“Mexico will reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard immediately, to stop drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, in particular fentanyl,” Sheinbaum posted on social media. “The United States commits to work to stop the trafficking of high powered weapons to Mexico.”  

Earlier, Sheinbaum said she had told her economy minister, …