President Donald Trump said the time has come to "wage war" against Mexican drug cartels, vowing to "wipe them off the face of the Earth" after at least nine Americans, including several children and infants, were reportedly killed Monday in a cartel ambush in Mexico near the Arizona border.
"A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing," Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. "If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing & able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively. The great new President of Mexico has made this a big issue, but the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army!"
A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019
....monsters, the United States stands ready, willing & able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively. The great new President of Mexico has made this a big issue, but the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019
This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. We merely await a call from your great new president!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019
The victims of Monday's attack, some of whom reportedly had dual citizenship with both Mexico and the United States, were from Utah and were living in the Mormon community of La Mora. Family members say the group was heading to a Monday wedding in Chihuahua and was traveling in a three-vehicle caravan when they were attacked by gunfire, with one vehicle later set on fire. There have been no official reports as to who was behind the massacre, though family members of the victims say they believe it was a case of mistaken identity by a cartel.
According to NBC, the dead included Christina Marie Langford Johnson, 29, Dawna Langford, 43, and Trevor Langford, 11, and Rogan Langford, two-and-a-half. Also slain were Rhonita Miller, 30, Howard Miller, 12, Krystal Miller, 10, and 8-month-old twins Titus and Tiana Miller.
Eight others are reported to have survived the attack, including a 9-month-old child was shot in the chest and a 4-year-old who was shot in the back.