Mexico City, Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday she is considering legal action after tech billionaire Elon Musk alleged on X that she was connected to drug cartels. She said government lawyers are reviewing the matter.
Musk post follows operation against CJNG leader
Musk’s post came after Mexican security forces captured and killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.” In the post, Musk responded to a 2025 video of Sheinbaum discussing cartel violence and alleged she was “saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say,” without providing further evidence.
Sheinbaum says government lawyers are reviewing options
“We are considering whether to take legal action,” Sheinbaum said during her daily morning press conference.
Potential legal hurdles in the United States
Sheinbaum could face difficulty suing Musk for defamation in the United States because of strong legal protections for free speech. To prevail in a defamation case against Musk in the United States, Sheinbaum would need to prove Musk knowingly said something false about her or recklessly disregarded the truth when he said it.
Tesla does not immediately respond
Tesla, Musk’s auto company, did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Sheinbaum’s remarks.
Sheinbaum reiterates stance on “war on drugs”
In the 2025 video, Sheinbaum said a return to a “war on drugs” was not feasible. “Returning to the war on drugs is not an option … it is outside the framework of the law,” she said.
Security situation after attacks following Sunday operation
Sheinbaum said she expected security to continue to normalise in Mexico after cartel members coordinated a series of roadblocks and arson attacks following the government’s Sunday operation against Oseguera.
Background on earlier military offensive
The military 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 cause to still-high homicide rates.
What should Mexican authorities do to address allegations made by public figures on social media?
