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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that her administration is considering legal action against Elon Musk after he accused her of being influenced by drug cartels.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Elon Musk set off headlines in Mexico after posting on X that President Claudia Sheinbaum was “just saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say” after unrest in Jalisco following a military operation that killed cartel leader Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. He also criticized her after a resurfaced video showed Sheinbaum saying that returning to a full-scale “war on drugs” was not an option in Mexico. Musk’s comments echoed long-running accusations against Mexican presidents, with critics claiming persistent cartel violence, territorial control, corruption scandals, and ongoing drug trafficking prove that Mexico’s political elite are compromised and controlled by the cartels. Those supporting these arguments often point to the cartels’ ability to carry out brazen attacks with limited responses by the government. Others reject that narrative, arguing it ignores concrete actions taken by recent administrations, including the extradition of hundreds of cartel suspects to the United States and major security operations such as the raid that killed El Mencho.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, President Sheinbaum said her government is actively weighing a legal response to Musk’s claims. “We are considering whether to take legal action,” she told reporters, adding, “The lawyers are reviewing it.” She dismissed the allegation that she leads a “narco-government” as “absurd,” saying of the accusations, “It falls apart all on its own,” and, “They don’t even know what to invent any more, right? Honestly, it’s laughable.”

Her comments came just days after violent reprisals erupted across parts of western Mexico following the military operation that killed El Mencho. Cartel members responded with roadblocks, arson attacks, and clashes with security forces, leaving dozens dead and prompting heightened security alerts. Against that backdrop, Sheinbaum framed the operation as evidence of her administration’s commitment to confronting organized crime, not colluding with it.

Sheinbaum added that “the vast majority of people recognize the work of the armed forces and the work we are doing every day, not only in security, but for the good of the country, for the wellbeing of all Mexicans.”

As of this article being posted, Musk has not responded to Sheinbaum.