Sheinbaum accuses US far right of interference as bilateral relations hit new low
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has dramatically escalated her rhetoric against the United States, accusing far-right sectors of coordinating with domestic groups to destabilize her administration. The leftist leader’s comments, delivered at a press conference on June 1, mark a sharp intensification of tensions between the two North American neighbors.
Speaking from Mexico City, Sheinbaum said she believes elements of the US far right are seeking a bad relationship with Mexico due to ideological differences. However, she clarified that she does not believe the attacks are being orchestrated by President Donald Trump himself. The remarks follow a weekend rally where Sheinbaum denounced alleged interference by US government agencies and business interests.
“Who decides in Mexico, foreign agencies or the people?” Sheinbaum told supporters on Sunday, at an event commemorating the second anniversary of her 2024 presidential victory. “We are going to defend Mexico’s sovereignty and independence.”
A rallying cry amid diplomatic friction
Relations between the two nations have been strained since Trump began his second term in January, fueled by disputes over tariffs and immigration policies. Tensions escalated significantly in April after the US Department of Justice indicted 10 Mexican officials, including Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha of the ruling Morena party, for alleged ties to drug trafficking.
Sheinbaum has intensified her calls to protect national sovereignty following those indictments. Last week, Mexico’s congress approved a constitutional amendment allowing for the annulment of elections in the event of foreign interference. Opposition leaders have criticized the legislation as a pretext to hold new elections if the results are unfavorable to the ruling party.
The most serious attempt at intervention, according to Sheinbaum, came after the deaths of two CIA agents on April 19, which she says prompted heightened efforts by US authorities and far-right groups to destabilize her government.
US expands investigations into Mexican governors
Adding to the friction, the US has quietly revoked visas for two additional sitting Mexican governors allied with Sheinbaum, as part of a broader campaign against high-level Mexican officials suspected of ties to organized crime.
Alfonso Durazo, the governor of Sonora, and Américo Villarreal Anaya, the governor of Tamaulipas, have both been stripped of their US visas amid criminal probes, according to sources familiar with the cases. Both are members of Mexico’s ruling Morena party and have been entering the US under a special parole typically reserved for cooperating witnesses.
For years, the US refrained from investigating sitting politicians in its fight against drug trafficking, preferring to target cartel leaders. But as many of Mexico’s most notorious drug traffickers have been killed, arrested or have turned themselves in, Washington has shifted its attention to prosecuting elected leaders and law enforcement agents suspected of involvement in organized crime.
The move against sitting government officials threatens to undermine Mexico’s ruling party, which came to power on a promise to combat corruption, and further strain the already tense relationship between the two countries.
Sheinbaum’s domestic standing remains strong
Despite the diplomatic friction, Sheinbaum’s domestic standing remains robust. A poll published by newspaper El Financiero showed her approval rating at 69%, reversing a slight decline that began in March. This resilience underscores her ability to rally nationalist sentiment against perceived foreign interference.
During a rally in Mexico City, Sheinbaum launched her strongest criticism to date against what she says are blunt US attempts to interfere in Mexican domestic politics. “Is this really a legitimate, genuine interest in helping Mexico? Or are we perhaps seeing sectors of the US far right positioning themselves ahead of their 2026 elections?” she asked.
The president assured that Mexico is open to and committed to maintaining security cooperation to prevent drug trafficking, but this does not mean the US can determine who is guilty of a crime or not. “When pressure is applied to our institutions from outside, when it becomes accepted that another country can intervene in matters that are the responsibility of Mexicans, we’re no longer talking about cooperation; we’re talking about interference,” said Sheinbaum.
Broader implications for North American relations
The escalating diplomatic tensions come at a particularly sensitive time, as the three nations prepare to co-host the 2026 World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19. The tournament, for the first time played across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, represents a major test of cross-border cooperation.
Sheinbaum’s accusations of US interference reflect a growing sense of nationalist defiance among Mexico’s political class. The cases involving indicted officials and visa revocations have become the main point of tension between Sheinbaum and Trump’s administration, raising questions about the future of bilateral cooperation on security, trade, and immigration.
The situation also highlights broader trends in US-Mexico relations, with both sides increasingly willing to challenge each other publicly. As investigations into Mexican officials expand, and as Sheinbaum continues to frame these as attacks on national sovereignty, the potential for further confrontation appears high.
Meanwhile, the internal political implications are equally significant. Mexico’s constitutional amendment allowing election annulment over foreign interference has been criticized by opposition leaders as a potential tool for the ruling party to maintain power. For now, however, Sheinbaum appears to be successfully leveraging the diplomatic crisis to consolidate domestic support, as her approval ratings attest.
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