Mexico City – Claudia Sheinbaum, the president-elect of Mexico, made a firm declaration today, stating that she will not allow Mexico to be used as a central element in the U.S. electoral campaign. This statement comes in response to comments made by Republican candidate Donald Trump, who recently highlighted his previous efforts to pressure Mexico into deploying 28,000 soldiers for anti-immigrant actions during his tenure as President. “They gave us everything I wanted, I received everything from Mexico,” Trump asserted during a rally in Michigan last Saturday.
In a press conference held at the transition house, Sheinbaum expressed respect for current U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to step down from the presidential race. She also commented on the potential candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizing that the decision rests with the American people. “We have said it on several occasions, it is a decision of the American people who they elect. They are going to make that decision and we are going to work with whoever the American people decide,” Sheinbaum remarked at the outset of her address.
Addressing Trump’s threat to close the border with Mexico if he regains the presidency, Sheinbaum warned of the severe repercussions such a move could have on both countries. “President Trump also said that he wants to maintain the trade agreement with Mexico, he also said this at one of his events and indeed, the trade agreement must be maintained; it is important to know that what is coming is not a renegotiation of the treaty, it is a review, it is a minor revision of the treaty,” she clarified.
Sheinbaum asserted that her primary role as leader will be to defend Mexico. “I will have to, today as President or Virtual President Elect and as President, always defend Mexico, Mexicans abroad, defend Mexico. And we are a free, independent and sovereign country,” she stated. Emphasizing Mexico’s sovereignty, she added, “Yes, we have a commercial relationship with the United States, there is friendship with the United States, there is a very important border, but we are a free, independent and sovereign country, and we are a great country with a great culture. So, we must always defend Mexico everywhere, that is the role of the person who Mexicans have elected as President. So, we are going to represent him well and use diplomacy, use information, but also always defend Mexico.”
In her comments, Sheinbaum also acknowledged the significance of women participating in the presidential race in the U.S. “The first woman to run for President was Hillary Clinton and now there is the possibility of another woman running for the Democratic Party; of course, as women, we are happy to have women running, but it will be up to the American people to decide who they elect as President and for us to get along.”
Reflecting on President Biden’s tenure, Sheinbaum praised the good relationship he has maintained with Mexico and reiterated that this relationship would continue until the end of his presidency in January 2025. “So, regardless of who is elected, the relationship is always from president to president, from president to president; so, until the last day of President Biden’s presidency, we will have a relationship with the president of the United States,” she said.
Sheinbaum underscored the importance of respecting the self-determination of peoples, a constitutional mandate in Mexico. “Beyond a personal opinion or not, I believe that, and particularly in a relationship as important as the United States, we must have respect for whoever the people of the United States decide and always defend Mexico and not allow Mexico to be used as part, as the central element of the campaign,” Sheinbaum emphasized.
In concluding her remarks, Sheinbaum reiterated her respect for President Biden’s decision not to pursue the Democratic nomination. “Well, it’s his decision. I have a lot of respect for President Biden. I had the opportunity to speak with him on the phone. He spoke to me to congratulate me. I really respect him. I also spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris. And I repeat again: it is their decision, we respect everyone and always defend Mexico in a relationship as equals, as a sovereign, independent, free country; and at the same time, with a great commercial relationship in which Canada, the United States and Mexico all benefit.”
As Sheinbaum prepares to take office, her statements set a clear tone of strong leadership and unwavering defense of Mexico’s sovereignty and interests amidst the evolving political landscape in the United States.
