The following piece is an opinion and does not reflect the views of The Eagle and its staff. All opinions are edited for grammar, style and argument structure and fact-checked, but the opinions are the writer’s own.
On June 2, 2024, Mexico elected its first female president. President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, a 62-year-old environmental engineer and former mayor of Mexico City, won the presidency with nearly 60 percent of the vote, becoming the first woman to lead Latin America’s second-largest economy.
Since taking office, Sheinbaum has faced national and international challenges. Some have defined her as a strong, reasonable, diplomatic and charismatic leader, but others see her as tepid, indifferent and apathetic to her citizens.
One of the most relevant and recognized challenges that Sheinbaum has faced is the bilateral commercial and diplomatic relations with the United States. The early months of 2025 were characterized by the constant threats and efforts of the Trump administration to impose tariffs on Mexico over migration and drug trafficking. In contrast to the reactive actions of other world leaders, Sheinbaum has prioritized direct dialogue with President Donald Trump.
Her fluency in English and respectful tone have set her apart from former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Trump has responded positively and voiced appreciation for this from Sheinbaum.
All this achieved something that not even former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could achieve: a deal with Trump. Despite the comments that the American private sector convinced Trump to hold the tariffs on Mexico and Canada, Sheinbaum’s attitude helped establish mutual respect and cooperation, which ended in respectful agreements between the White House and the Mexican government.
On Truth Social, Trump recognized that Sheinbaum’s efforts were essential to achieving the deal, writing he delayed tariffs “as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum.” It is surprising how Trump publicly recognizes that he respects Sheinbaum, a female, leftist and scientist leader.
Sheinbaum even made a joke in reference to Trump’s renaming the Gulf of Mexico, suggesting the United States change its name to “America Mexicana.” Her calmness and diplomatic style have given her the power to joke and talk peacefully with one of the most reactionary and impulsive men who leads one of the most powerful nations.
However, Sheinbaum did not enjoy full peace during her first months as president. She might be resolving international affairs with elegance, but she still has domestic affairs that must be addressed.
The recent discovery of a mass grave in Teuchitlán, allegedly linked to drug cartels and government inaction, has increased doubts about the government and past administrations. The grave was found by volunteers in zones where the Mexican army has done intelligence operations and searches for missing people. Sheinbaum is now being questioned about her responses as head of state and how she will remain unbiased in an investigation with possible connections to the National Guard, created by her mentor, López Obrador.
Meanwhile, Sheinbaum has promoted new judicial reform originally introduced by López Obrador that allows Mexican citizens to elect judges. Mexican and foreign experts warn that this move may jeopardize the judicial system’s independence and the apolitical quality it needs to be unbiased. Despite that, this reform has passed under the current government, and Sheinbaum has done a tour around Mexico promoting the elections of judges, with an argument that doing so will reduce the inequalities that judicial decisions in the past have caused.
There is a contradiction here that’s difficult to ignore. Sheinbaum claims to defend “It's the only way to clean up the judiciary” and independence of foreign influence, but at the same time, is supporting a measure that threatens impartiality. How can judicial decisions be unbiased if judges are campaigning for votes?
Students at American University, and anyone who cares about global leadership, should be able to see the entire picture. It is undeniable that her international work is extraordinary and quite promising, but she was also elected to work for the interest of her citizens, who are suffering a dramatic and violent situation.
The violence, corruption and fragility within Mexico are not going away. And a president who is strong globally but weak domestically is not fulfilling her responsibility as a leader. Sheinbaum is beginning to write her chapter in Mexican and global history. Whether it’s one of strength or silence will depend on how she chooses to lead from here.
Jeronimo Freydell-Cristancho is a freshman in the School of International Service and a columnist for The Eagle.
The article was edited by Quinn Volpe, Alana Parker and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks and Olivia Citarella.
