标签： North America

In a definitive stance on national sovereignty, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has explicitly ruled out any form of U.S. military intervention within Mexican territory following a telephone discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Monday conversation occurred amidst escalating international tensions and recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela, which Washington justified as anti-drug trafficking measures.

President Sheinbaum characterized the 15-minute exchange as ‘cordial’ while firmly declining Trump’s offer of military support against powerful drug cartels. ‘We communicated that our current strategies are proving effective and that such assistance is unnecessary,’ Sheinbaum stated during her regular morning press briefing. ‘Most importantly, we emphasized Mexico’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which President Trump acknowledged.’

The Mexican leader provided reporters with comprehensive details about her country’s security achievements, including the dismantling of clandestine drug laboratories, numerous arrests connected to organized crime networks, a 50% reduction in narcotics crossings into the United States, and a more than 40% decrease in drug-related fatalities.

Regarding Venezuela, Sheinbaum reaffirmed Mexico’s constitutional principle of non-intervention in foreign affairs, directly communicating this position to the U.S. president. The diplomatic exchange will continue with a planned January 23rd meeting in Washington where Mexican cabinet members will discuss ongoing security coordination. Another presidential conversation addressing trade matters, including tariffs and the upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement review, is also scheduled.

This high-level dialogue follows Sunday’s discussion between Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where both parties committed to enhanced cooperation against illegal arms trafficking and organized crime while respecting Mexico’s sovereignty.

In an extraordinary escalation of political pressure on the Federal Reserve, the Trump administration has threatened criminal indictment against Chair Jerome Powell over congressional testimony regarding a building renovation project—a move Powell characterized as a “pretext” for gaining influence over interest rate policy.

The confrontation represents the most severe test of Federal Reserve independence in decades, triggering immediate reactions across Washington and global financial markets. Republican Senator Thom Tillis, a Banking Committee member, declared he would oppose all Trump Fed nominees “until this legal matter is fully resolved,” questioning the Justice Department’s “independence and credibility.”

Financial markets responded with heightened volatility as investors assessed implications for monetary policy. Longer-term Treasury yields rose amid inflation concerns, gold surged to record highs, and the dollar weakened. Major U.S. stock indexes opened lower, with bank stocks particularly pressured by simultaneous Trump proposals to cap credit card interest rates.

The subpoenas, served Friday by the Justice Department, relate to Powell’s June 2023 testimony about cost overruns in the $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s Washington headquarters. Powell maintains the investigation represents broader administration efforts to influence rate-setting decisions, stating: “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.”

This development occurs two weeks before the Supreme Court hears arguments regarding Trump’s attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Powell’s term as chair concludes in May, though he retains Board membership until 2028. Fed historians describe the situation as “a low point in the history of central banking in America,” highlighting the dangerous precedent of using criminal law against a sitting Fed chair.

Trump denied knowledge of the Justice Department’s actions while criticizing Powell’s performance, telling NBC News: “I don’t know anything about it, but he’s certainly not very good at the Fed, and he’s not very good at building buildings.”

Aboard Air Force One on January 11, 2026, President Donald Trump announced the immediate imposition of a comprehensive 25% tariff on all nations maintaining commercial relations with Iran. This decisive economic measure represents a significant escalation in U.S. pressure against Tehran as anti-government demonstrations continue into their third consecutive week.

President Trump utilized his Truth Social platform to declare the tariff enforcement “effective immediately,” though the administration provided no specific criteria defining what constitutes “doing business” with Iran. The presidential order stated unequivocally that “Any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America,” adding that “This Order is final and conclusive.

The White House, through spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, declined to elaborate on implementation details or identify which trading partners would be most severely affected. China, Iran’s largest trading partner, appears particularly vulnerable to these measures, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and India.

This economic offensive follows Trump’s earlier warnings of potential military intervention should Iranian authorities respond with lethal force against protesters. Leavitt confirmed that military options, including targeted airstrikes, remain “on the table” as viable contingencies.

The current wave of civil unrest began in late December, triggered by widespread anger over the catastrophic collapse of Iran’s national currency. The protests have evolved into a profound challenge to the legitimacy of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s government.

According to documentation from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), the conflict has resulted in nearly 500 protester fatalities and 48 security personnel deaths, with thousands more detained. Independent sources suggest the actual casualty figures may substantially exceed these verified numbers.

In a notable development, Trump revealed that Iranian officials had attempted to initiate negotiations, though he emphasized that the United States “may have to act before a meeting” given the urgency of the situation.

The State of Minnesota has initiated a landmark legal confrontation against the Trump administration, filing a federal lawsuit to halt what state officials describe as an unconstitutional deployment of immigration enforcement personnel. State Attorney General Keith Ellison leads the charge, characterizing the federal operation as an invasive overreach that has instigated widespread chaos and violence across communities.

The legal action follows the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal immigration agent last week, an incident that sparked substantial public outcry and protests. The lawsuit formally requests a federal judicial ruling to declare the agent deployment illegal, asserting it violates constitutional protections against federal overreach.

In defense of its position, the Trump administration maintains that the enhanced presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents is essential for targeting undocumented migrants and ensuring public safety. This legal clash represents a significant escalation in tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement strategies, with potential implications for federal-state relations nationwide.

The case highlights deepening divisions between state governments and federal immigration policy, setting the stage for a consequential judicial determination on the limits of federal enforcement authority within state jurisdictions.