Why I Asked The White House About The Latest Assassination In Mexico
WASHINGTON, D.C. — I had the opportunity to be in the New Media seat for the White House’s press conference today. This seat gives reporters, such as myself, the benefit of asking the first question.
With everything going on in the United States and the world, I felt it was necessary to ask Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt what the Trump administration’s reaction to the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. For those who are unaware, Manzo’s city is located in the state of Michoacán. It is a state that has been plagued with cartel violence as different groups fight each other for control of the region. Civilians have been caught in the crossfire numerous times.
As mayor of Michoacán’s second largest city, Manzo was celebrating Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead, over the weekend with his family when he was shot by a lone gunman. The attack was successful and Manzo died, despite having policemen guarding him at the time of the shooting. The gunman was quickly killed.
Manzo’s murder has enraged Mexicans. His killing is another in a long list of politicians, activists, and journalists who had spoken out against the cartels. Manzo was a heavy critic of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for not doing enough to directly confront the various cartels. Riots and protests have broken out in Michoacán since Manzo’s death. City halls in Morelia, the state capital, and Apatzingán were attacked and stormed by angry crowds, calling for the removal of the ruling Morena party.
Sheinbaum, who has enjoyed favorable coverage by the liberal mainstream media in the United States, is facing a crisis that could upend her presidency that is barely a year old. On Monday, Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico will not allow foreign military intervention to fight the cartels.
“Mexico is a free and sovereign nation,” Sheinbaum told reporters, adding the Mexican War on Drugs has failed because it has caused the high-level of violence in states like Michoacán.
With the ongoing turmoil, this is what Leavitt had to say in response to my question:
“We condemn all political violence anywhere in all forms. As for Claudia Sheinbaum and the President’s relationship with her, I think he has a lot of respect for her…We are continually pushing Mexico to do more to tackle the drug trafficking and the drug cartels within their country,” Leavitt said.
Manzo’s murder was reportedly carried out by someone with ties to Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. CJNG is one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels and has been fighting for control of Michoacán for a number of years, but that was not always the case…