On August 20, 2025, PAN Senator Lilly Téllez sparked political uproar after an interview with American Media company Fox News in which she accused the Mexican government—specifically President Claudia Sheinbaum and the ruling Morena party—of protecting drug traffickers.
Speaking to host Rachel Campos-Duffy, Téllez stated that “the only people opposed to U.S. help against cartels are the narco-politicians, which includes President Sheinbaum and her entire group”. She emphasized that most Mexicans support international cooperation to combat organized crime, even welcoming former President Donald Trump’s offer of assistance.
Téllez, a former Morena member turned vocal critic, pointed to Sheinbaum’s endorsement of Senator Adán Augusto López as evidence of cartel infiltration. Opposition figures have accused López of ties to La Barredora, a criminal group allegedly led by his former security chief in Tabasco.
The backlash was swift. On August 21, President Sheinbaum condemned the interview, calling Téllez a “traitor” for suggesting foreign intervention. “It’s not a minor issue that a senator gave an interview to a foreign media outlet calling for intervention,” Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference. She likened the act to 19th-century conservatives who invited European emperors to rule Mexico.
Morena lawmakers echoed Sheinbaum’s outrage. PT Deputy Lilia Aguilar Gil formally requested that Téllez be investigated for “possible acts of treason,” citing her statements as a threat to national sovereignty.
Téllez responded via social media, clarifying that she called for “help,” not “intervention,” and accused Sheinbaum of distorting her words. “Speaking of help is freedom of expression, not a crime,” she wrote.
The controversy has reignited debate over Mexico’s security strategy and its relationship with the United States.
Source: El Financiero
