The Biden-era mess at our southern border is far from over, and now we are seeing just how deep the denial runs. On Monday, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proudly announced a joint program with Mexico called “Project Portero.” But by Tuesday morning, Mexico’s new leftist president, Claudia Sheinbaum, flat-out denied it ever happened.

Let that sink in. Our DEA said we had Mexican investigators working side-by-side with American agents to bring down the cartels controlling key smuggling routes. The program was supposed to involve intelligence sharing, joint targeting, and real cooperation. In theory, that’s what’s needed to stop the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into our country.

But President Sheinbaum says she knows nothing about it. “We don’t know what they based that on,” she told reporters. Not only is that embarrassing—it’s dangerous.

This is what happens when you try to partner with a government that’s more concerned about saving face than saving lives. Sheinbaum has been tiptoeing around the cartels since day one. Earlier this year, she even had the nerve to blame Americans for the drug crisis—saying it’s our fault for being addicted, not the fault of the bloodthirsty criminals her government refuses to confront.

Let’s be clear: Mexico is in crisis. Whole regions of the country are ruled by the cartels. The Mexican government either can’t or won’t control them. And now, even when the U.S. steps up to help, we’re met with a shrug and a denial.

This isn’t just some miscommunication. It’s a slap in the face.

President Trump has been right all along. You can’t trust the Mexican government to solve this problem on their own. That’s why he took bold action earlier this year, slapping tariffs on Mexico to force them to do something—anything—to stop the flow of drugs. And guess what? It worked. Mexico started extraditing dozens of cartel leaders to the U.S. to face justice.

But now that the pressure’s off, they’re back to playing games. This sudden denial of a joint program shows they’re not serious. They don’t want real cooperation. They want the benefits of American aid and American trade, without the responsibility.

What’s worse is that the Biden cronies in the deep state—still hanging around some of our agencies—keep treating Mexico like a reliable ally. They announce these programs like everything’s fine, without even locking down the facts. The DEA may have good intentions, but without real leadership from the top, even the best plans fall apart.

President Trump has made it clear: America will not sit back while our communities are poisoned. We will not wait for foreign leaders to get their act together. We will defend our borders, protect our families, and fight the cartels with or without Mexico’s help.

That means building the wall. That means putting troops on the border if needed. That means using every tool we have—including economic pressure—to make sure Mexico doesn’t get to pretend this isn’t their problem.

It also means cleaning house here at home. Agencies like the DEA need to be held accountable when they jump the gun or make false claims. We need strong, clear coordination across all parts of the federal government, and that starts with real leadership. Not bureaucrats. Not globalists. Not people who care more about optics than outcomes.

This is a matter of life and death. Every day, drugs cross the southern border and kill Americans. Every day, these cartels get richer and stronger. And every day, weak leaders like Claudia Sheinbaum pretend it’s not their fault.

The American people deserve better. President Trump is fighting to give us that. He’s putting America First, and he won’t stop until the border is secure, the cartels are crushed, and our nation is safe again. Enough with the excuses. It’s time to act.