The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon, the latest book by investigative author Peter Schweizer, has quickly become one of the most controversial political books of early 2026. Released on January 20 by HarperCollins, the book debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller list, continuing Schweizer’s streak of top-ranked investigative exposés. Schweizer is a Tallahassee resident and heads the Government Accountability Institute. In The Invisible Coup, Schweizer argues that immigration is being “weaponized” by a coalition of American elites and foreign governments to influence U.S. elections and erode national sovereignty. Based on what he says is more than two years of research, Schweizer asserts that countries such as Mexico and China use diplomatic missions, migrant outreach programs and other tools to shape political outcomes in the United States. He also claims that certain domestic political networks have facilitated this influence for their own power interests. The book’s narrative includes explosive allegations that Mexico’s extensive network of more than 50 consulates in the United States is not merely serving expatriate communities, but actively engaging in political mobilization aimed at swaying elections The Mexican government has forcefully rejected the book’s claims. In a public statement, Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) described allegations that its consular network intervenes in U.S. politics as “falsedades carentes de sustento” — falsehoods without basis — and reiterated Mexico’s commitment to nonintervention and respect for U.S. sovereignty. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum herself has denied the central premise that Mexico is attempting to influence American elections, characterizing Schweizer simply as “a person who wrote a book” and dismissing the accusations at a press briefing. Meanwhile, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma, has emphasized that Mexico’s consular activities adhere to international law and are focused on assisting Mexican nationals abroad, not political campaigning. The divergent reactions have added fuel to an already heated debate, intensifying discussions on immigration policy, diplomatic relations and national security on both sides of the border. Schweizer’s Previous Works The Invisible Coup follows a series of books from Schweizer that have resonated strongly within political circles. His 2015 Clinton Cash, which explored financial ties between the Clintons and foreign donors, became a national bestseller and helped establish Schweizer’s reputation as a conservative muckraker. Subsequent works such as Secret Empires (2018), Profiles in Corruption (2020), Red-Handed (2022) and Blood Money (2024) all examined perceived ethical failings and influence networks among U.S. political elites and foreign actors. Many of these titles also reached the upper echelons of national bestseller lists, cementing Schweizer’s commercial success and influence. Despite intense scrutiny and widespread debate, The Invisible Coup’s #1 ranking on The New York Times list underscores its commercial impact and the broader cultural resonance of its themes in an era of contentious immigration and foreign policy discourse. ...read more read less