That’s the best the New York Times can do? As expected, they twist themselves into knots trying to avoid giving Donald Trump credit for something they begrudgingly admit is happening: the cartels are on the run. And yet, buried in their own reporting, the truth peeks through.
Cartel leaders are hiding. Drug labs are shutting down. The Sinaloa cartel—the same ruthless organization that has pumped fentanyl into American communities, leaving devastation in its wake—is suddenly scaling back production. Mexican authorities have intensified crackdowns, making arrests and busting labs at an unprecedented pace. So, what changed?
According to the New York Times, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum deserves some of the credit. But let’s not kid ourselves—she’s only stepping up because Trump put Mexico in a financial headlock. His tariff threats weren’t just posturing; they were a clear message: either Mexico acts against the cartels, or the U.S. economy slams its doors on them.
And guess what? It worked. Even cartel members are admitting it. They weren’t really worried about the Mexican government before. Why? Because they had bought off enough officials to keep business running smoothly. One cartel leader openly admitted that corruption kept the authorities at bay. But that’s not the only way cartels maintain control—when bribes don’t work, bullets do. Officials who resist them don’t just get pressured; they get eliminated.
🇺🇸🇲🇽 Trump joins forces with Mexico Government to take out the Drug Cartels
Most people imagine drug overlords as men with guns & gangs in jungles, however the reality is that they have actual military to take on the military. pic.twitter.com/bdIG264Dda
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) February 3, 2025
So why the sudden fear? Trump went a step further. His administration officially designated the cartels as terrorist organizations, which means they’re no longer dealing with just bribe-hungry officials. Now, they’re staring down the possibility of direct U.S. military action. And according to the Times, the fear is real. Cartel members are reportedly trembling at the prospect of an American strike.
They have good reason to be. A South Texas rancher, Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, was just killed by what appears to be a cartel-planted IED. That’s an act of war, and the administration knows it. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes has already made it clear: Trump sees the cartels for what they are—terrorists—and he’s willing to deal with them accordingly.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has hinted that military plans are already in motion. If so, the cartels may not have much time left before their fears become a reality. The days of bribes and intimidation keeping them in power may be over. They wanted to play warlord? Well, they might just get their war.
