President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at her morning press conference

Trump Asked to Participate in Oil Production, but I Told Him It Can’t Be Done, Sheinbaum Says

BySugeyry Romina Gándara

This article by Sugeyry Romina Gándara originally appeared in the October 19, 2026 edition of SinEmbargo, an independent Mexican digital news outlet.

Mexico City, October 19 (SinEmbargo).— President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (CSP) revealed that her counterpart Donald Trump has asked her during their phone conversations to increase purchases of US natural gas. However, the Mexican president explained that she has rejected the proposal, given that the country plans to increase the extraction of this fuel on national territory.

At her morning press conference, she also explained that the Republican leader has expressed interest in having companies from his country intervene in oil production in Mexico. In this regard, she maintained that there are constitutional and legal restrictions that prevent granting rights over hydrocarbons, although she clarified that US companies can expand their participation through contracts with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).

He has raised at times whether he can help, that is how he puts it, in oil production, and in every case we have been clear. I have told him: ‘Look, President Trump, here there is a Constitution and here there are laws. So here oil rights cannot be granted.’

President Claudia Sheinbaum

In this context, she recalled that US companies have participated for decades in activities of the Mexican oil industry as Pemex contractors, so that route would allow them to expand their involvement without modifying the legal framework that regulates the national energy sector.

Trump Does Not Condition USMCA on Handing Over “Narco-Politicians”

The Chief Executive denied that the occupant of the White House is conditioning the negotiation of a trade agreement with Mexico on the handover of politicians allegedly linked to drug trafficking or on actions against corruption. She also clarified that the US president has not used the term “narco-politicians” during their phone conversations.

“None of that, none of that. And besides, what narco-politicians? No, no, none of that,” she responded when asked about the issue.

On the other hand, she acknowledged that Trump has told her that there are areas of Mexican territory controlled by criminal organizations, a claim she has directly rejected. According to her account, she has responded that this situation does not correspond to the country’s reality and has presented him with the results of her security strategy.

Claudia Sheinbaum gestures during her morning press conference
The President called for separating the bilateral relationship from US electoral disputes. Photo: Camila Ayala Benabib, Cuartoscuro

“Well, that is not true, President. What’s more, look at the results we have. Fentanyl crossings have been reduced by 60-some percent, we cut the number of homicides in half. Various results that have been achieved in security. If that were true, well, we obviously would not have these results,” she stated.

The president attributed part of the statements about Mexico to the electoral context of the neighboring country and maintained that these are US opinions. For that reason, she again asked that the Nation not be used as a political campaign issue.