It looks like President Donald Trump is done playing nice when it comes to Mexico’s water tab — and Texas farmers are nodding in agreement.
In a fiery post on Truth Social Monday, Trump called out Mexico for allegedly violating the 1944 Water Treaty, accusing the country of falling dangerously behind on water deliveries to the U.S. and slamming the impact it’s having on American agriculture. And just to make sure the message landed loud and clear, he threw in a little something extra: a 5% tariff threat if Mexico doesn’t cough up 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31.
“Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK,” Trump wrote, in classic all-caps fashion. “The U.S. needs Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31st, and the rest must come soon after.”
The president went on to note that Mexico still owes the U.S. more than 800,000 acre-feet of water from the past five years. And while the treaty lays out a clear framework — Mexico sends water to the U.S. via the Rio Grande, and we send water to them from the Colorado River — apparently the flow has been a little one-sided lately.
“Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK… Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW.” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/m4V1KEW0Lm
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 8, 2025
If you’re wondering what 800,000 acre-feet of water looks like, think of it as millions of gallons needed to grow crops, water livestock, and keep the agricultural heart of southern Texas alive. And yes, farmers have been sounding the alarm for quite a while. Last year, groups representing citrus and sugar producers warned of a brutal season ahead if Mexico didn’t meet its obligations. With each dry month, the Rio Grande Valley saw more crop failures, more struggling families, and more empty wallets.
This isn’t the first time the issue has come up. The U.S. and Mexico have clashed over this very treaty before, especially during droughts. But this latest shortfall is the worst in nearly 30 years — and the stakes are only getting higher.
Back in April, the Trump administration negotiated an agreement with Mexico to help resolve the water dispute. Mexico agreed to send water from several tributaries of the Rio Grande and release water from international reservoirs. That short-term fix brought some relief, but as of now, the follow-through appears to be lacking — which is why the president is turning up the pressure once again.
And when Trump says he’ll slap a tariff on something, he usually means it. Remember 2019? When he hit Mexico with a tariff threat over illegal immigration, it only took a few days for them to respond. This time, it’s not about border security — it’s about water security, which for farmers, is just as critical.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has supported the administration’s actions, calling them necessary to protect American farmers. She emphasized the need for Mexico’s “continued cooperation” and stressed that agriculture depends on the promised water deliveries to survive.
Under the 1944 treaty, Mexico is required to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water every five years. The U.S., in return, provides 1.5 million acre-feet from the Colorado River. But when one side doesn’t hold up its end, the consequences don’t just trickle in — they hit hard.
🚨 NOW – PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Mexico must take care of its water and sewage problem, IMMEDIATELY. It is a true Threat to the People of Texas, California, and the United States of America!”
Don’t get on Trump’s bad side.
FAFO is coming. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GfcE0Ingc1
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 10, 2025
From job losses to failed harvests, the Rio Grande Valley is already feeling the strain. And with the December 31 deadline looming, the clock is ticking.
Will Mexico deliver? Or will Trump make good on his promise and raise tariffs?
Either way, Texas farmers are watching — and waiting — for someone to finally turn the tap back on.
