AMLO Praises Sheinbaum, Criticizes Trump Advisers in Scathing Letter on U.S.-Mexico Relations

Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador recently broke his retirement silence to denounce the U.S. interventionist onslaught and reaffirm his unconditional support for President Claudia Sheinbaum. He praised her handling of the bilateral relationship, stating she has navigated ties with the Trump administration efficiently, responsibly, prudently and respectfully, proving “to be the best president of Mexico of our time.”

In a five-page letter published on his X account, he made a sharp critique of current advisors surrounding President Trump, and appealed for bilateral respect. 

López Obrador begins his letter by saying that it does not surprise him that the U.S. government’s “onslaught against Mexico utilizes the same interventionist and unscrupulous practices” as always, now under “the pretext of combating migration and narcoterrorism.” He backed President Claudia Sheinbaum’s assessment that  Washington’s interventionism is not motivated “by a genuine interest in resolving the serious problem that Americans unfortunately suffer due to the prolonged pandemic of drug addiction,” but rather is a “political and electoral matter.”

He bluntly stated that U.S. officials are plotting to weaken the ruling party, Morena, and strengthen the right-wing opposition in Mexico with the “idea of once again having a submissive, corrupt, mafia-style, and cruel government—and, therefore, a vulnerable one that is subordinated and faithful to their interventionist designs.” He further  pointed out that Washington is relying on a "Hitlerian propaganda tactic" of repeating falsehoods to manipulate American voters ahead of the November elections, effectively scapegoating Mexico "for each and every one of their ills,” and he emphasized that this is not new. 

The other Trump

The core of the letter regards the "surprising change of attitude" in President Trump, particularly in the relationship with Mexico, and noted that the Trump of today is completely different from the one he dealt with. 

“In my experience, there were several issues that we resolved, for the good of our people, through reasoned dialogue and without confrontation,” noted López Obrador. He went on to say that on a few occasions they did have discrepancies—one that he recalled was the heated controversy over the migration issue, where Trump threatened to impose tariffs, and that would have led Mexico to retaliate, but an agreement was reached before the conflict escalated.

Former President López Obrador listed several diplomatic successes with Trump, that demonstrate their past pragmatism, including the smooth signing of the USMCA, the protection of Mexico's sovereign oil interests, and pandemic assistance. Crucially, he noted that Trump consistently respected Mexico's red lines—refraining from inflammatory border rhetoric and accepting his refusal of unilateral U.S. security operations on Mexican soil. He also recalled an occasion on which Trump consulted him on whether it was advisable to designate drug traffickers as terrorists, and that he told him “that such a blunder should not be committed,” and that he took his advice. 

AMLO considers that Trump’s radical shift of behavior and his new way of governing has nothing to do with the end of his term, dismissing the idea that “he is not obligated to moderate himself because re-election is not at stake.” Instead, he argues that a person like Trump is more interested in history than in the office itself, and “he would not like to be remembered as responsible for an economic and social welfare crisis.” 

“Above all, he would not want to be identified as a reckless leader who fought with almost the entire world, including the Pope and even with his neighbors Canada and Mexico,” López Obrador noted.

He also dismissed the idea that many may have that Trump is no longer exercising his leadership directly, as in his first term, relying instead on “inexperienced, resentful, and fanatical advisors who lack the qualities of true statesmen to guide his decision-making.” Instead,  he attributes the shift to “his false friends and internal and external advisors who have been embarking him on vile and sinister adventures.” The former Mexican President concluded by expressing hope that Trump will alter his course and return to his original, hands-on style of governance—urging him to rule “with enthusiasm, in a personal manner, not delegating what is fundamental, relying on his practical judgment and his accurate instinct.”

Photo: Gemini AI