Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during a rally marking his fifth anniversary in office, at the Zocalo in Mexico City, July 1, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday accused Ron DeSantis, governor of the US state of Florida, of "very base politicking" after the Republican presidential candidate made insensitive remarks about the Latin American country.

Since we are in that campaign season, they talk about intervening in Mexico's affairs, about not respecting our sovereignty. They insult us, but we must not take them very seriously.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexican President

DeSantis displayed an even "more anti-immigrant" stance than former US president Donald Trump, said Lopez Obrador during his daily press conference.

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"This Mr. DeSantis wants to be even farther to the right than Trump, that is why he appears more anti-immigrant than Trump ... very base, cheap, shabby politicking," said Lopez Obrador in response to a query from journalists.

DeSantis recently said that if elected president, he would send special forces into Mexico on day one to fight the drug cartels.

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The presidential candidate is trailing in the polls and resorting to sensationalist statements to make headlines and drum up support for himself, said Lopez Obrador.

"Since we are in that campaign season, they talk about intervening in Mexico's affairs, about not respecting our sovereignty. They insult us, but we must not take them very seriously," he added.

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The 2024 US presidential election is set to be held on Nov 5, 2024.