MEXICO CITY, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Tuesday she is contemplating authorized motion following a remark by tech billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, that alleged she was linked to drug cartels.
Musk’s submit on X adopted the seize and killing of Jalisco New Era Cartel (CJNG) chief Nemesio Oseguera, “El Mencho,” by Mexican safety forces.
Within the submit, Musk responded to a 2025 video of Sheinbaum discussing cartel violence and alleged that she was “saying what her cartel bosses inform her to say.” He didn’t present additional proof.
“We’re contemplating whether or not to take authorized motion,” Sheinbaum stated throughout her day by day morning press convention, including that authorities legal professionals are reviewing the matter.
Yuri Cortez/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Sturdy Free Speech Protections
Sheinbaum might face issue suing Musk for defamation within the U.S. due to sturdy authorized protections without spending a dime speech. To prevail in a defamation case in opposition to Musk within the U.S., Sheinbaum would want to show Musk knowingly stated one thing false about her or recklessly disregarded the reality when he stated it.
Tesla, Musk’s auto firm, didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Sheinbaum’s remarks.
Within the 2025 video, Sheinbaum stated a return to a “conflict on medicine” was not possible.
“Returning to the conflict on medicine will not be an choice … it’s exterior the framework of the regulation,” she stated.
The army offensive on cartels led by former President Felipe Calderon in 2006 led to bloody turf battles as gangs splintered, triggering a spiral of violence that many analysts see as a contributing trigger to still-high murder charges.
Sheinbaum stated she anticipated safety to proceed to normalize in Mexico after cartel members coordinated a collection of roadblocks and arson assaults after the federal government’s Sunday operation in opposition to Oseguera.
Requested if the operation marked a return to a extra violent safety stance, Sheinbaum stated this could by no means be the case.
“The detention of a suspected legal with an arrest warrant can generate any such circumstance, however we’re searching for peace, not conflict,” she stated.
Ruling MORENA Occasion president Luisa Alcalde additionally reacted to the submit on social media, saying Musk ought to use his platform and X social media community to struggle drug consumption, dependancy, disinformation and cease the promotion of narco tradition.
“Wealth doesn’t give ethical authority,” she stated. “The lives which can be misplaced on this struggle, typically fueled by consumption in different international locations, are value infinitely greater than any fortune amassed in Silicon Valley.”
Over 130,000 individuals are lacking in Mexico, the place a lot of the nation’s violence is linked to drug cartels that promote merchandise to and procure firearms from the USA.
(Reporting by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez, extra reporting by Jack Queen; Modifying by Natalia Siniawski, Rod Nickel)
