MEXICO CITY — President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday accused far-right elements in the United States of coordinating with groups inside Mexico to undermine her administration, intensifying criticism of Washington amid growing diplomatic friction.
Speaking to reporters, the leftist leader said she suspected U.S. far-right sectors were pushing for a deterioration in bilateral ties over ideological differences, though she stopped short of blaming U.S. President Donald Trump directly. The comments followed a weekend rally where Sheinbaum denounced what she described as interference by U.S. agencies and business interests in Mexico’s internal affairs.
Tensions between the two countries have risen since Trump began his second term in January, driven by disputes over tariffs and immigration. Relations worsened in April when the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 10 Mexican officials, including Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha of Sheinbaum’s ruling Morena party, on alleged drug-trafficking links.
In response to what she calls external meddling, Sheinbaum has stepped up rhetoric around national sovereignty. At a Sunday event marking the second anniversary of her 2024 election victory, she asked supporters whether Mexico should be guided by foreign agencies or by its own people and vowed to defend the country’s independence.
Last week, Mexico’s congress approved a constitutional amendment allowing elections to be annulled in cases of “foreign interference,” a move critics say could be used to challenge unfavorable outcomes for the ruling party. Despite the diplomatic strain, Sheinbaum’s domestic popularity appears resilient: a recent El Financiero poll put her approval rating at 69%, reversing a slight dip earlier this year.