Mexican president threatens to launch 'information campaign' against Republicans, denies fentanyl is produced in Mexico

On Thursday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador threatened to launch an "information campaign" to convince Mexicans and Hispanics living in the United States not to vote for Republican candidates.

Lopez Obrador made the comments in response to calls from Republican lawmakers to crack down on the cartel and the smuggling of fentanyl over the southern border. He claimed that the deadly drug is not produced in Mexico.

On Wednesday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (S.C.) called for the U.S. to unleash its "fury and might" on the cartels by using the military to destroy drug networks. In addition, he stated that he plans to introduce bipartisan legislation to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

"We're going to destroy their business model and their lifestyle because our national security and the security of the United States as a whole depends on us taking decisive action," Graham stated. "Not to invade Mexico, not to shoot Mexican airplanes down, but to destroy drug labs that are poisoning Americans."

Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw similarly called for military force to be used against the Mexican drug cartels following the recent deaths of two Americans.

In a post on Twitter to Lopez Obrador, Crenshaw wrote, "2 of the 4 Americans kidnapped by the cartels in Mexico were murdered, and we still haven't declared the cartels a military target. It's time we authorize military force against them. Are you listening, @lopezobrador_? We would love for you to be a partner. Help us help you."

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland insisted that fentanyl is being "unleashed on purpose" in America by the cartels. He noted that the Mexican government "is helping us, but they could do much more."

Lopez Obrador fired back on Thursday, "Starting today we are going to start an information campaign for Mexicans who live and work in the United States and for all Hispanics to inform them of what we are doing in Mexico and how this initiative by the Republicans, in addition to being irresponsible, is an offense against the people of Mexico, a lack of respect for our independence, our sovereignty."

"And if they do not change their attitude and think that they are going to use Mexico for their propaganda, electoral, and political purposes, we are going to call for them not to vote for that party, because it is interventionist, inhumane, hypocritical, and corrupt," he added.

Lopez Obrador insisted that the government's information campaigns would cause Republican candidates to receive "not one vote" from Mexicans and Hispanics.

He added, "Here, we do not produce fentanyl, and we do not have consumption of fentanyl. Why don't they [the United States] take care of their problem of social decay?"

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, "Most of the fentanyl trafficked by the Sinaloa and CJNG Cartels is being mass-produced at secret factories in Mexico with chemicals sourced largely from China."

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