President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering drastic measures to combat drug cartels in Mexico, including a possible military invasion. According to a new report from Rolling Stone, Trump’s transition team is revisiting plans to deploy U.S. forces across the southern border as part of a controversial “war” on cartels that he blames for America’s fentanyl crisis.
“How much should we invade Mexico? That is the question,” a senior Trump transition official reportedly told the magazine. Sources also claim Trump is weighing a “soft invasion,” where American military leaders would target and assassinate top drug cartel leaders.
Trump’s 2024 campaign heavily leaned on aggressive rhetoric against Mexican drug cartels and the fentanyl epidemic, which claimed an estimated 70,000 American lives in the past year. He has repeatedly vowed to hold cartels accountable, blaming them—and lax immigration policies—for the drug crisis.
“The drug cartels are waging war on America, and it’s now time for America to wage war on the cartels,” Trump said in a statement earlier this year. “When I am back in the White House, the drug kingpins and vicious traffickers will never sleep soundly again.”
Reports suggest that Trump has privately discussed with Republican lawmakers the possibility of forcing Mexico to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States—or face military action. Such a move would represent an unprecedented escalation, risking a breach in international relations and potentially sparking a war if Mexican officials refuse to cooperate.
Adding economic pressure to his plans, Trump recently announced his intent to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada to curb drug imports. Experts warn this tariff could have severe economic consequences for all three nations, potentially disrupting trade and inflating prices for American consumers.
