President Donald Trump claimed during his State of the Union address Tuesday that the killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, was a direct result of his administration’s policies, despite assertions from Mexico that the operation was based on intelligence provided by the US but executed solely by Mexican forces.
Trump boasted of a “turnaround for the ages” during the longest State of the Union address in history, lasting one hour and 47 minutes, while presenting the cartel leader’s death as a key achievement in “restoring American security and dominance in the western hemisphere.” He further stated his administration had “virtually stopped” the flow of drugs into the country, particularly by sea. Mexico’s President, however, dismissed Trump’s claims of direct responsibility as “almost laughable,” acknowledging only that the US provided “complementary intelligence” leading to the raid in Jalisco. The New York Times reported that the CIA was the source of the location information.
Beyond domestic security, Trump dedicated a significant portion of his address to foreign policy, focusing heavily on Iran. He accused Tehran of supporting militant groups, suppressing protests, and pursuing dangerous missile and nuclear programs, framing these actions as threats to regional stability and US interests. According to Reuters, Trump used the speech to lay out a case for potential military action against Iran. He specifically claimed Iran was developing missiles capable of striking the United States, a claim dismissed by an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday as “sizeable lies,” according to reports from France24.
The President also reiterated his designation of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and his classification of illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. He also referenced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom he has previously labeled a “narco-terrorist,” as another success of his administration.
Notably absent from the address was any mention of the ongoing legal issues surrounding the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The speech also did not include a definitive statement regarding potential military action against Iran, despite the strong rhetoric employed. The Financial Times reported that Trump “lashed out at Tehran’s ‘sinister’ nuclear ambitions” during the address, further fueling speculation about a possible military confrontation.
