Donald Trump Backs Down on Plan to Designate Mexican Cartels Terrorists

President Donald Trump decided Friday not to officially designate Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, deferring instead to Mexico.

“We will temporarily hold off this designation and step up our joint efforts to deal decisively with these vicious and ever-growing organizations!” Trump wrote on Twitter.

The president said that although he was fully prepared to take the tough step against the cartels, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador asked him not to.

Trump said he liked and respected President Obrador, who has been working with him to help stop the flow of migrants crossing the Southern border of the United States.

Trump says he will nominate acting AG Todd Blanche to permanently lead Justice Department

US military kills two alleged narco-terrorists in latest Eastern Pacific strike on drug-trafficking vessel

Rubio torches Democrat after bizarre hearing questions about his shoes: ‘Is this a circus?’

Gov. Mikie Sherrill accuses ICE of denying her access to Newark detention facility Delaney Hall

Bessent flips script on Dem senator with reminder about his son’s past ties to Epstein

Watch: Painful Silence Descends After AG Blanche Asks Dem Rep to Provide Source for Wild Epstein Claim, Then She Gives Dumbest Answer Possible

Garth Brooks Nears Unprecedented $2 Billion Deal That Would See Him Relinquish His Music Catalog: Report

Frontier passengers tackle man who allegedly choked off-duty flight attendant, tried to open door mid-flight

Watch: Marco Rubio Stunned as Democratic Rep Completely Loses It and Walks Out of Hearing

Islamic Guerilla Forces Attack Christians in African Country, Slaughter 21

Texas Leftist’s ‘Rally Against Rednecks’ Backfires

Christian Couple Wins Massive Victory Over Blue State That Barred Them from Foster Program

Thune moves to neutralize immigration bill landmines from DOJ lawfare fund

Rep. Al Green tells Homeland Security Sec. Mullin to ‘shut up’ after calling him a racist at hearing

Trump says anti-fraud efforts are uncovering billions in waste, claims savings could balance budget

President Trump was expected to meet with his advisers on Friday to discuss the designation, which he has been previewing for months.

“All necessary work has been completed to declare Mexican Cartels terrorist organizations,” he confirmed on Friday. “Statutorily we are ready to do so.”

The cartel slaughter of nine American citizens in Mexico last month — six children and three women — prompted Trump to speed up the process.

U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr met with Obrador on Thursday to discuss the president’s proposal, which the Mexican president criticized as “interventionism” and a “flagrant violation of our sovereignty.” Obrador also cited President Obama’s failed gunrunning operation “Fast and Furious” as an example of how the United States only made violence worse in Mexico.

In March, Trump told Breitbart News that he was thinking “very seriously” about the idea.

“It’s psychological, but it’s also economic,” Trump said about the cartels. “As terrorists — as terrorist organizations, the answer is yes. They are.

The designation would allow law enforcement to act swiftly against the cartels as well as target their weaponry and financial resources. The federal government would also be allowed to prosecute friends and family members of the cartels supporting them in the United States, as well as organized gangs such as MS-13.