Kathrine Frich
He launched a fiery warning at America’s southern neighbor.
Early mornings often reveal what is really keeping someone awake at night.
For most people, that means checking emails or worrying about a busy schedule ahead.
In Washington, though, a restless morning can quickly turn into an international standoff before breakfast.
An early morning warning
President Donald Trump is once again picking a fight with Mexico.
According to The Daily Beast, the 80-year-old leader used his Truth Social platform at 7:04 a.m. ET on Thursday to launch a fiery warning at America’s southern neighbor.
“Here we go again! With the perceived loss by the Republicans in the Midterms, I WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT, the INVASION of our Country is taking place again. Huge CARAVANS are forming and beginning their illegal march through Mexico,” Trump wrote in the post, as cited by The Daily Beast.
He did not stop there. “MEXICO MUST STOP THEM, NOW, and if they do not do so, the Tariffs on Mexico will be IMMEDIATELY DOUBLED. MEXICO, THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, THE VERY LIBERAL NEW GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, OUR GREAT BORDER PATROL, & ICE, HAVE BEEN SO INFORMED. There will be no leniency! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he added.
What sparked the anger
Behind the outburst is news of a new group heading north. Reuters reported that roughly 1,500 people recently left the southern Mexican city of Tapachula hoping to reach the United States.
According to Reuters, the travelers believe that recent Democratic victories in the midterm elections might give them a better shot at crossing the border.
For Trump, using trade penalties as a weapon is a familiar playbook. During his first term, The Daily Beast noted, he used similar tax threats to pressure Mexican officials into curbing migration, while also aiming trade warnings at China, Canada, and the European Union.
After winning reelection, he hit Mexican goods with a 25 percent tariff in 2025 over drug trafficking and border crossings, according to The Daily Beast. The Supreme Court later struck down that move as unconstitutional. Mexican officials have not yet replied to Thursday’s threat, though The Daily Beast reported they previously warned they would hit back with their own taxes.
Doubling down after defeat
According to The Daily Beast, voter frustration over higher prices from tariffs and tough border measures played a major role in the Republican Party’s heavy midterm losses. Even so, the president is sticking to his hardline strategy and recently named anti-immigration hawk Stephen Miller as his chief of staff.
One of the biggest shocks of the election happened in Texas, a longtime Republican stronghold that flipped to the Democrats in both the Senate and governor races. As reported by The Daily Beast, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott by over 500,000 votes.
Hinojosa was one of the leaders Trump singled out in his Thursday morning post. According to The Daily Beast, the incoming governor has promised to cooperate with the White House on border security while also vowing to rein in aggressive ICE operations across Texas.
