Table of Contents
‘How Deep Into Mexico Do You Intend To Go?’ Laura Ingraham Asks Cryptic Pete Hegseth About Potential Military Action on Mexican Territory.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not rule out U.S. military action in Mexico to combat drug cartels operating south of the border.
1 On Friday
On Friday, The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump directed Hegseth to use military force against Latin American drug cartels that the administration has deemed terrorist organizations.
“U.S. military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the groups, the people familiar with the conversations said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations,” the Times stated.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, appeared on Monday’s edition of The Ingraham Angle, where the host pointed to the Times report, as well as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stating that U.S. forces are not welcome in her country.
2 Laura Ingraham
Laura Ingraham asked Hegseth, “What is your target, and how deep into Mexico do you intend to go?”
“Well, we are not gonna comment on any of the reporting from The New York Times,” he replied. “I wish they had a little bit more commitment to patriotism to the country about what they report on a whole slew of levels… Material like that, true or not, should never be released. Ultimately, the president ran on designating these organizations as foreign terrorist organizations.”
Hegseth railed against the cartels and declared, “Now, where appropriate, when given the opportunity, when it makes sense, at the directive of the president, we will take action to defend the American people.”
3 “Does that mean
“Does that mean that you foresee U.S. troops in Mexico in some way, shape, or form?” Ingraham asked. “Or are you thinking drone attacks, air attacks, what do you think?”
“I can’t reveal anything, but I’m not tipping my hand that there will be U.S. troops in Mexico,” Hegseth said. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
Hegseth added, “If you’re trafficking in drugs, trafficking in people, you’re trafficking in violence that affects the American people, that’s unacceptable, and the Defense Department’s gonna be a part of solving that.”
In February, Hegseth reportedly warned leaders in Mexico that U.S. military action was a possibility if the cartels were not sufficiently reined in.
