MEXICO CITY, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday she is considering legal action following a comment by tech billionaire Elon Musk, the world's richest man, that alleged she was connected to drug cartels.
Musk's post on X followed the capture and killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Oseguera, "El Mencho," by Mexican security forces.
In the post, Musk responded to a 2025 video of Sheinbaum discussing cartel violence and alleged that she was "saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say."
"We are considering whether to take legal action," Sheinbaum said during her daily morning press conference, adding that government lawyers are reviewing the matter.
Sheinbaum could face difficulty suing Musk for defamation in the U.S. because of strong legal protections for free speech.
To prevail in a defamation case against Musk in the U.S., Sheinbaum would need to prove Musk knowingly said something false about her or recklessly disregarded the truth when he said it.
Over 130,000 people are missing in Mexico, where much of the country's violence is linked to drug cartels that sell products to and obtain firearms from the United States. »