Trump suggests Mexican soldiers confronted US troops as cover for drug smuggling

President Trump in a tweet Wednesday morning accused Mexican soldiers involved in a recent confrontation with U.S. troops along the border of aiding drug cartels.

“Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again!” Trump warned.

“We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!” he continued.

Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2019

His tweet came hours after it was reported that two U.S. soldiers were stopped earlier this month by Mexican soldiers who thought they had crossed the border in a remote part of Texas, south of the local border wall section but north of the actual physical border.

{mosads}The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Mexican troops departed after a brief conversation with the U.S. forces, and a subsequent inquiry by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found that the Mexican soldiers believed themselves to be on home territory when the confrontation occurred.

During the incident, a Mexican soldier reportedly confiscated a service pistol from one of the U.S. troops, depositing it inside one of the U.S. vehicles.

A Northern Command spokesperson confirmed the incident to The Hill, writing “though they were south of the border fence, U.S. soldiers remained in U.S. territory, north of the actual border.”

“After a brief discussion between the soldiers from the two nations, the Mexican military members departed the area. The U.S. soldiers immediately contacted CBP, who responded quickly. Throughout the incident, the U.S. soldiers followed all established procedures and protocols.”

–This report was updated at 10:42 a.m.