A last-minute agreement between President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to delay tariffs on Mexico has ignited heated debate, with national security expert Marcy Wheeler delivering a scathing response to a pro-Trump commentator who claimed the deal was a victory.
On Monday, Trump announced that he would postpone a 25% tariff on Mexican goods for one month in exchange for Sheinbaum sending 10,000 troops to Mexico’s northern border to curb migration. However, social media users quickly pointed out that Mexico had made a similar agreement with former President Joe Biden shortly after he took office, suggesting that Trump’s deal was not the unique triumph he portrayed it to be.
Despite this, far-right commentator Matt Walsh took to X (formerly Twitter) to declare that Trump’s actions demonstrated American dominance. “No country in Latin America has any power or leverage over the United States. There is literally nothing they can do when we make demands. We hold all the cards. They have none. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying, or delusional,” Walsh wrote.
He went further, arguing that the U.S. only needs to negotiate with a “VERY small list of countries that have real power in the world,” and that “None of them are in Central or South America.”
Wheeler, a national security analyst and the author behind the blog EmptyWheel wasted no time in shutting down Walsh’s argument. “Oh, honey. You’re sitting in a puddle of your own drool,” Wheeler replied. “Trump got his a– handed to him, by a woman.
And you poor boys are so stupid you don’t even know she gave him what Joe Biden got years ago. PLEASE for the sake of your self-respect stop drooling.” Wheeler’s response underscored the argument that Trump’s supposed deal was merely a rehash of an agreement that Mexico had already honored under Biden. Critics argue that Trump’s negotiation tactics are less about securing results and more about showmanship for his political base.
While Trump’s deal with Mexico delays tariff enforcement, it does nothing to alter his trade war with Canada and China. Tariffs against both countries remain in place, drawing backlash and potential legal action from affected industries and foreign governments.
Both Canada and China have already hinted at retaliatory measures, further escalating tensions in what experts say could become a costly economic battle for American consumers. As Trump continues to tout his tariff policies as a tough stance on trade, analysts warn that the long-term consequences—including potential price hikes and strained diplomatic relations—are still unfolding.