On Sunday, Donald Trump delivered yet another reminder of how quickly his negotiation tactics can produce results. With the implementation of a 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada, it didn’t take long for Mexico to come to the table. In fact, it only took one day. Following a phone call between Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico made a series of key concessions, chief among them deploying 10,000 National Guard troops to its northern border to combat fentanyl trafficking. In return, the U.S. agreed to pause the tariffs for a month, a window of time that Mexico will have to prove its commitment.
Sheinbaum struck a diplomatic tone, emphasizing respect and cooperation, but the message was clear—Mexico moved because they had to. Their agreement wasn’t just about stopping drug cartels; it was about shielding their economy from the crushing blow that tariffs could bring. As part of the deal, both nations committed to additional cooperation on issues of mutual concern, including the prevention of high-powered weapon trafficking from the U.S. into Mexico. Teams on both sides are already set to begin work on security and trade matters, a sign that the pressure is on for both nations to make progress before the tariff pause expires.
This swift capitulation is exactly why Trump uses tariffs as leverage, even if the strategy makes some Republicans uneasy. There’s no sugarcoating it—tariffs, if prolonged, would have raised consumer prices in the U.S., affecting everything from cars to avocados and, as Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer melodramatically warned, beer. (Fun fact: most beer does not come from Mexico, which makes Schumer’s comment more about fearmongering than fact.) But Trump always intended this to be short-term pain for long-term gain. As he himself admitted, tariffs aren’t meant to be permanent; they’re a pressure tactic to force action.
Chuck Schumer claims that President Trump’s tariffs will raise the price of beer because “most of it comes from Mexico” while holding a can of corona.
This might be the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever seen a politician do lmfao. pic.twitter.com/z4Z0W22gUe
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 3, 2025
What sets Trump apart here is his follow-through. It’s not about the tariffs themselves—it’s about making sure other nations know they can’t bluff. Mexico bent the knee because they knew Trump wouldn’t blink, and the same message is now being sent to Canada, whose Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, reportedly has a call with Trump on the horizon.
The stakes for Trudeau are just as high. A prolonged tariff battle could easily tip Canada’s fragile economy into a recession, something Trudeau likely can’t afford politically. The message for both nations is simple: cooperate, and the tariffs go away. Resist, and the hammer will fall harder.
For three days a lot of the far left has actively rooted against America and argued we’d get nothing out of President Trunp’s demands that Mexico secure its country.
Well, how do you like them apples? pic.twitter.com/NBpkRHXjko
— JD Vance (@JDVance) February 3, 2025
What’s remarkable is that Trump isn’t asking for anything unreasonable. He’s not demanding sweeping changes or acts of allegiance. All he’s asking is for these nations to do the bare minimum that any ally should be doing—helping to secure borders, fight crime, and protect mutual interests. If Mexico wants a long-term reprieve, they’ll need to prove they can sustain this cooperation. If Trudeau wants to avoid economic chaos, his path is clear.
Scott Jennings just explained PERFECTLY what happened with this tariff situation”
“Both Mexico and Canada have reached agreements with Donald Trump to do what we want.” pic.twitter.com/dDyu3JF8ue
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 3, 2025
This isn’t complicated. It’s a simple lesson in leverage: nations will only act in America’s interest when they believe the cost of inaction outweighs the cost of compliance. With Trump, that cost is always crystal clear.
