Donald Trump has sparked outrage in Mexico after celebrating the 1847 US invasion of its southern neighbour as a “legendary victory”. The message, posted by the White House, described the conflict as a triumph for American sovereignty and suggested that US policy in Latin America is guided by that victory.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by asserting that “we must always defend our sovereignty”. Former Mexican ambassador to the US, Arturo Sarukhan, called the comments an unprecedented affront, describing them as “an in your face F… You”. Political analyst Denise Dresser accused Trump of viewing Mexico as “a territory to be conquered, not as a partner”.
The war remains a deeply sensitive issue in Mexico, having resulted in the loss of 55% of its territory, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of several other states. Trump’s remarks come amid a more hawkish US stance in Latin America, including recent military action in Venezuela and threats against Colombia and Cuba.
Trump has also repeatedly suggested sending troops into Mexico to combat drug cartels, an offer that Sheinbaum has consistently rejected. Tony Payan, a Mexico expert at Rice University, interpreted the statement as a slap in the face to a cooperative ally, calling it “sheer 19th-century-style imperialism”.
