According to a recent poll by the newspaper El Financiero, just over half of respondents — 51% — think that the bilateral relationship is bad or very bad. (Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum has been described as a “Trump whisperer,” but a majority of Mexicans believe that her administration is not doing a good job managing the relationship with the U.S. president, according to the results of a recent poll.
The newspaper El Financiero surveyed 1,000 Mexicans between Aug. 14 and 25, asking them a range of questions related to the Mexico-U.S. relationship.
El Financiero’s poll began the day that Trump claimed that Mexico “does what we tell them to do,” an assertion dismissed by Sheinbaum. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)
56% of poll respondents think Sheinbaum is doing a bad job managing the relationship with Trump
El Financiero asked the poll respondents to “rate the way in which the government of Claudia Sheinbaum is handling the relationship with Donald Trump.”
Fifty-six per cent of respondents said that the Sheinbaum administration is doing badly or very badly in that task, while just 28% of those polled said it is doing well or very well.
The remaining 16% of respondents didn’t answer one way or the other.
El Financiero didn’t ask for specifics on why people thought the Sheinbaum administration was doing a good or bad job managing the relationship with Trump. Some observers claim that the Mexican government is being too subservient to the U.S. government, even as Sheinbaum repeatedly asserts that Mexico takes its own sovereign decisions to best serve its own national interest.
Since Trump began his second term on Jan. 20, the United States has imposed tariffs on a range of imports from Mexico, undermining the USMCA, and pressured Mexico to do more to combat cartels and the northward flow of narcotics. The Mexican government has made some progress in those areas.
However, his administration has accused the Mexican government of affording “safe havens for the cartels to engage in the manufacturing and transportation of dangerous narcotics,” a claim that has currency among opposition politicians in Mexico.
Speculation remains that the U.S. government could use military force against drug cartels in Mexican territory, although Sheinbaum has dismissed that possibility and frequently declares that Mexico will never accept any kind of violation of its sovereignty.
Relationship between Mexico and US is bad, according to a majority of poll respondents
El Financiero also asked the 1,000 people it polled to rate the relationship between Mexico and the United States.
Just over half of the respondents — 51% — said that the bilateral relationship was bad or very bad. The percentage was six points lower than in July.
Almost four in ten of those polled — 37% — said that the Mexico-U.S. relationship is good or very good, an increase of 10 points compared to El Financiero’s July poll. That indicates that the Mexican government’s efforts to stave off a higher tariff rate (30%) on non-USMCA compliant goods were recognized by some poll respondents.
Trade and security have been the dominant issues in the bilateral relationship this year.
During El Financiero’s polling period, the security relationship suffered a hiccup after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration touted the launch of what it called a “bold bilateral initiative to dismantle cartel gatekeepers and combat synthetic drug trafficking.”
Sheinbaum subsequently said that her government wasn’t part of any such initiative.
Most respondents are opposed to US military action against cartels in Mexico
Sixty-five per cent of respondents said they disagreed with the idea of deploying U.S. military forces to combat criminal groups in Mexico. That percentage declined 10 points compared to July, suggesting that some Mexicans have changed their opinion on the matter.
One-third of respondents — 34% — said they were in favor of the U.S. military taking action to combat Mexican cartels, six of which are now designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. That figure is up 10 points compared to July.
The poll results don’t align with Senator Lily Téllez’s claim last month that most Mexicans would welcome U.S. assistance in the war against drug cartels.
The Trump administration is certainly willing to deploy the military to Mexico to take action against cartels, as Sheinbaum revealed in May that she had rejected an offer from the U.S. president to send the U.S. army into Mexico. It would appear unlikely — albeit not inconceivable — that the U.S. would unilaterally take military action against Mexican cartels on Mexican soil.
Two-thirds of poll respondents — 66% — said that the Mexican government should “defend national sovereignty” and not allow the United States to get involved in the fight against drug cartels in Mexico, while 31% said that the Sheinbaum administration should collaborate more with its U.S. counterpart. The former percentage declined 19 points compared to July, while the latter increased 18 points.
Most respondents support handover of cartel figures to US
Just over seven in 10 respondents — 72% — said they agreed with the decision to hand over the criminals (or alleged criminals), while 25% disagreed with the move.
A slightly higher 76% of poll participants told El Financiero in March that they agreed with the decision to hand over 29 cartel figures to the United States. That transfer of prisoners occurred in late February.
Mexican authorities portrayed the separate handovers of the organized crime figures as sovereign decisions that were in Mexico’s best interests, as there was a possibility that some of the prisoners could have been released from Mexican jails.
Insecurity seen as Mexico’s biggest problem
Asked what Mexico’s “main problem” is today, 55% of poll respondents cited public insecurity.
While the number is still high, the percentage of El Financiero poll respondents citing insecurity as Mexico’s No. 1 problem has trended down this year from a high of 78% in January.
A total of 36% of respondents cited the Mexican economy or corruption as Mexico’s biggest problem. The split among that cohort was even: 18% cited the economy as the top problem and 18% mentioned corruption.
On the hunt for a dream home by the sea? There are some things to know before buying real estate in Mexico. (www.susimacdonald.com)
There was a period in Mexico’s history when buying property as a foreigner was out of reach. That’s because Mexico once had restricted zones, which prevented non-Mexican residents from owning land within 100 kilometers of the border or 50 kilometers of the coast. But in 1993, everything changed when former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari amended this restriction to welcome billions of dollars in foreign investment into the country under the NAFTA free trade agreement.
It may be said that Salinas is a key reason why the dream of retiring in a Mexican beach town is possible in 2025. A fideicomiso is the most common way for non-Mexican residents to buy a condo these days. The bank owns the property, yet the beneficiary retains all the rights of ownership. This means a foreign investor can live in the property, sell, mortgage, or even rent it out through Airbnb.
A fideicomiso, or bank trust, is necessary to buy coastal real estate in Mexico, but it confers all the rights of ownership to the purchaser. (www.susimacdonald.com)
If you’re entrepreneurial and want to start a business in Mexico, that’s another viable option. You can register a corporation, set up office headquarters, and place yourself as a shareholder. This gives you the ability to buy a home since your business will be considered a legal entity, and you’ll be contributing to the economy via taxes.
How to buy real estate on the Riviera Maya
Since the Riviera Maya is one of Mexico’s most popular regions for expats to invest in beach-filled areas like Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, Cancún, Puerto Morelos and Cozumel, I reached out to a well-known real estate expert named Susana Macdonald to get more insight on how the buying process works.
Having appeared on shows like “House Hunters,” Macdonald has been a licensed real estate sales advisor in the Riviera Maya for 13 years. She has also collaborated with the YouTube Channel “Dream Retirement Mexico,” where she provides valuable insight on the Mexican real estate market.
Every time I go anywhere within Quintana Roo, I always think about someday calling somewhere in that region home. But if I were to buy property myself in, say, Bacalar, I wanted to understand what unexpected fees were involved in buying my dream condo.
What to know about unexpected fees before you buy
“What always catches my clients by surprise is the high percentage of closing costs,” Macdonald told me. “In the Riviera Maya, the acquisition cost alone will range from 3% to 4% as a buyer. The notary fee can also be as high as 6%. Appraisal costs are something else to keep in mind. But the good news is, once you buy a property, the maintenance costs and property taxes are usually low. The trust fees you have to pay each year to maintain your investment will also be quite reasonable.”
According to Macdonald, the fees that go along with buying property in Mexico can be up to 10%. It’s worth keeping in mind the next time you browse your favorite real estate site online.
You’ll need to understand fees and other costs before buying (and decorating) your new condo in Mexico. (www.susimacdonald.com)
“It comes down to where you decide to live,” Macdonald said. “For example, the acquisition cost of buying property in Tulum is the highest at 4%. Cancún is 3.3%. Playa del Carmen and Bacalar are both at 3%. The list goes on. Prices and acquisition costs vary by municipality. That’s why it’s important to do your research and be sure you’re aware of what’s involved in purchasing your dream home. It’s also worth consulting a lawyer to help represent your best interests.”
The importance of finding a good real estate agent
I was pleased to learn it’s realistic to pay less for the acquisition if you manage to find an undiscovered hidden gem in a less frequented area by tourists. Macdonald added that certain areas within the state of Yucatán have acquisition costs as low as 2.5-3%.
The more we spoke, the more I realized how knowledgeable she was about the real estate world in Mexico. It also made me curious to understand what I should look for in an agent once I am in the market for a little apartment in a chill Mexican beach town.
“So I feel it’s important to deal with an independent real estate agent because you’ll have a much more personalized experience,” Macdonald said. “You have agents that work for the developer and represent only one project or commercial building. But independent agents, such as myself, are not tied to one entity and can help you shop around in multiple neighborhoods. We’re in a good position to help find the best opportunities for our clients and make sure they’re able to get what they need.”
Building a relationship with your real estate agent
Macdonald also stressed the importance of building a relationship with her clients. That way, they have an ally to help navigate any problems that may arise down the line. Sometimes, even long after the sale is made, Macdonald will be available to help them.
“I think if somebody sits down and talks to me, they have the expectation of wanting to do business with me, and I have to provide them that service. Even when the transaction is finished, I encourage my clients to call me if they need anything. Moving to Mexico is a big decision, and I try to be the best advocate that I can be so they are happy.”
Condos are a great option for those seeking to buy a home on the Riviera Maya. (www.susimacdonald.com)
What to budget beforehand
If you’re looking at a property that goes for US $200,000, the most crucial takeaway is to budget at least $20,000 more in order to prepare yourself for the other fees. It’s also worth exploring your options because Mexico has plenty of great beach towns and homes. But if you have any more questions, you can reach Macdonald on her website and book a call.
So, are there any other expenses that we haven’t gone over in Mexico’s Riviera Maya? Let us know in the comments below.
Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico, visiting family and friends.
Tropical Storm Lorena is forecast to dump 50-75 mm of rain on Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima and Michoacán over the next 24 hours, with heavy rains reaching Baja California Sur by nightfall. (NOAA)
Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) has issued advisories for four Pacific Coast states after Tropical Storm Lorena formed early Tuesday.
The National Water Commission (Conagua) alerted states in the storm’s path after Tropical Depression Twelve-E picked up speed, increasing from 23 km/hr to 39 km/hr, and continued on its west-northwesterly path roughly parallel to the coast.
The SMN has forecast heavy rains for the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima and Michoacán as the storm moved within 350 kilometers of Manzanillo, Colima, and Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, to the northeast.
Although Lorena is expected to dump considerable rain on those four states, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) projects the probable path of the storm center to remain parallel to the coast through Thursday before it slows and veers east.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds reached 55 km/h at 8 a.m., with gusts of up to 75 km/h, and it was within 550 km of Cabo San Lucas, a resort city on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
An NHC bulletin warned that “additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Lorena could reach hurricane strength by Wednesday.” Conagua said Lorena might not reach hurricane strength until Friday.
(NHC)
Lorena is expected to make landfall halfway up the Baja California Peninsula late Friday night, but Conagua expects it to decrease to a tropical depression as it crosses the Gulf of California and comes ashore in Sonora.
Official coastal watches and warnings were in effect by mid-morning Tuesday.
The SMN said the storm’s outer bands would lash the Pacific Coast, dumping from 50 to 75 mm of rain on Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima and Michoacán over the next 24 hours, with heavy rains reaching Baja California Sur by nightfall.
Lorena could be accompanied by hail and electrical charges, according to the SMN daily report, generating puddles, landslides and flooding in low-lying areas of the aforementioned states.
The SMN also advised coastal areas to expect sustained winds of 40 km and gusts up to 70 km through early Wednesday. The storm could also stir up waves exceeding 3 meters.
Maximum amounts of 12 inches of rain are possible across portions of Baja California Sur and southwestern Sonora through Friday, adding that potentially significant flash flooding is a possibility.
Lorena is the 12th tropical storm to form during the current hurricane season, with 16 to 20 expected in the Pacific and 13 to 17 in the Atlantic.
¡Viva México! September is Independence Month in our beloved country, and Mexico City is ready to rumble! (Osvaldo Samuel Rendón/Pexels)
Get your Mexican flags (and Tums pills) ready, because September 2025 is here and some of the best culinary events will fill our taste buds with delights from across the country. Beyond enjoying “El Grito,” Mexico’s traditional cry of independence, our civic festivals, architectural and theatrical performances also await. Here’s our digest of what’s on in Mexico City in September 2025.
Chiles Rellenos Festival by Sanborns
Chiles en nogada are a September fan favorite across the country. (Mike González/Pexels)
Every year, Mexicans eagerly await September to try the seasonal dishes. Honoring this long wait, traditional restaurant Sanborns celebrates our cuisine with its yearly Festival de Chiles Rellenos. Although traditional chiles en nogada will be the stars of the event (as expected), customers will also be able to try different stuffed chile recipes from across the country. If you visit your nearest Sanborns store, don’t even ask for the menu — just order chiles en nogada. You can thank us later.
Dates: Running from Sept. 1-30
Location? Any Sanborns store in Mexico City!
Cost: Varies according to menu items ordered
Bosque de Chapultepec annual race
Dubbed ‘the capital’s greatest lung’, Bosque de Chapultepec will host its yearly race in September 2025. (IMSS/Cuartoscuro)
Covering 15 kilometers, the 2025 edition of the Chapultepec Park Race is designed to allow participants to exploreevery corner of the park. Organized by the Chapultepec Forest Trust and Asdeporte, the event has a clear goal: to raise funds for the conservation work needed by Mexico City’s “greatest lung.” From Gran Avenida, within the First Section of the Forest, to the Monument to the Child Heroes, the route is divided into 3 categories: 5, 10, and 15 kilometers, depending on the skill level of each participant.
Piano Festival at the National Center for the Arts
From China to Cuba, pianists from all over the world will come to the Blas Galindo concert hall this September. (Gobierno CDMX/Wikimedia Commons)
The Blas Galindo auditorium, one of the National Center for the Arts’ largest concert halls, will host the “Blanco y Negro” piano festival this year. On its 28th edition, interpreters from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland and Cuba will take the stage in eight different concerts. As “the most important piano showcase in the country,” asdescribed by CENART’s authorities, the program is one of the most ambitious of the year.
Dates: Every weekend in September, from Sept. 6-28
Location: Río Churubusco 79, Country Club, Coyoacán.
This soundscape exhibit feeds an algorithm with each visitor’s voice. In this way, the chatbot – the centerpiece of the tour – responds to new visitors with a mix of the voices of previous attendees. In the context of the AI boom, according tomuseum authorities, Leviatán “invites us to look beyond technological wonder and explore the profound questions about what it means to be human.”
Dates: Until Sept. 28
Location: Justo Sierra 16, Centro, Cuauhtémoc.
Cost: 50 pesos
‘El Grito’ at the national palace
For the first time in Mexico’s History, a female president will perform ‘El Grito’ from Palacio Nacional’s main balcony. (Luis Andrés Villalón Vega/Unsplash)
For the first time in Mexico’s history, a woman will perform ‘El Grito’ from Mexico City’s Palacio Nacional. President Claudia Sheinbaum is expected to lead the traditional Independence Day Ceremony from her office’s balcony. During the event, she will ring the same bell that leader Miguel Hidalgo used to call for an armed uprising 215 years ago. In a country with a daily toll of 10 feminicides, this is not only a victory over gender violence but a milestone for gender struggle across the country.
Date: Sept. 15
Location: You can watch “El Grito: online or watch it on TV
Cost: Free of charge
Watch the fireworks and light show in the Zócalo
The video mapping and firework show traditionally lasts about an hour on Independence Day. (Israyosoy S./Pexels)
The best way to enjoy ‘El Grito’ and the fireworks is from above. Of course, watching the show directly from the Zócalo has its own charm. However, it’s far more comfortable to enjoy the show from a terrace or balcony of one of the hotels surrounding the main square. The mapping and fireworks last for about an hour, during which you could have a hearty Mexican dinner from a lovely terrace or balcony. My best suggestion would be to book a room at the Grand Hotel, where you can spend the entire night away from the crowds, with the best view.
Date: Sept. 15-16
Location:16 de Septiembre 82, Centro, Cuautémoc.
Cost: Fees vary depending on the room
MEXTRÓPOLI 2025
The festival turns “Mexico City into a powerful cultural, tourist and civic attraction,” explained the event’s organizers. (MEXTRÓPOLI)
Mexico City’s most important architectural festival is up in September. Expecting roughly 100,000 visitors this year, the event addresses “Collective Housing” as its main theme. The open-air exhibition seeks to rethink how we inhabit cities and how we can design spaces that respond to current challenges. Through several workshops and talks, MEXTRÓPOLI 2025 will question balanced urban density, architectural flexibility, recycling materials and the creation of community environments.
Dates: Sept. 18-21
Location: Several locations across town. Check the routehere
Today a venue for experimental art, the Museo Universitario del Chopo was also an institution dedicated to researching the natural history of Mexico during the 20th century. (Gaceta UNAM/Roberto Frías)
Celebrating a 5-decade journey through contemporary art and exhibits, Museo Universitario del Chopo has announced a multidisciplinary program that spans across every discipline the venue has hosted. The iconic cultural venue in theSanta María neighborhood will showcase iconic moments in its history, from being brought piece by piece from Germany to its time as an archaeology museum. Karol Wolley, a representative of the curatorial team,emphasized that this is not a typical chronological exhibition: it is presented as a collection of curiosities, to show an “intimate relationship with the history of the site itself.”
Dates: Aug. 21-Nov. 25
Location: Museo del Chopo, Dr. Enrique González Martínez 10-P.B., Santa María la Ribera, Cuauhtémoc.
Cost: General entrée starting at 30 pesos; children and seniors, 15 pesos.
Japan: from myth to manga
Japanese gods, monsters and heroes mingle with robots, origami and manga in this exhibit. (Katsushika Hokusai/Wikimedia Commons)
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” an icon of Japanese art, arrives like a tsunami in Mexico City with the exhibition “Japón: del Mito al Manga.” Hosted by the Franz Mayer Museum, in the capital’s Historic Center, the exhibit showcases legends, iconography, fashion, design and technology “to create a sensorial journey that connects the past with the present,” museum authorities note.
Dates: Aug. 8-Sept. 30
Location: Museo Franz Mayer. Hidalgo 45, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc.
Cost: Entrance fees starting at 180 pesos.
Watch EGREGOR, director Santiago Cumplido’s latest creation
AI seems to be awakening a different kind of consciousness in contemporary humans, doesn’t it? (Sistema de Información Cultural/Gobierno de México)
“Egregor” refers to a thought that gives life to a non-physical entity. In the boom of AI, director Santiago Cumplido designed, staged and choreographed this performance, staged at the iconic Capilla Gótica theater, which transports us to a futuristic Mexico where time has been fractured. The show features dance, clones, and post-humans “in a world where the collective unconscious has given birth to an entity that feeds on human energy,” saidtheater authorities.
Dates: Sept. 25-Oct. 19
Location: Teatro de la Capilla at Instituto Helénico. Avenida Revolución 1500, Guadalupe Inn, Álvaro Obregón.
According to the National Seismological Service (SSN), the earthquake’s epicenter was located 10 kilometers southeast of San José del Cabo at a depth of 10 kilometers. (Canva)
While the earthquake was considered by officials to be a moderate magnitude event for the region, locals felt a strong tremor on land. “It felt horrible here in San Lucas,” a user wrote on X, while another one accused the SSN of saying the earthquake’s magnitude was much lower than it actually was.
Security footage from grocery stores and shops showed a strong shock that caused products on the shelves to fall to the floor. Witnesses reported hearing the sound of glass bottles breaking and windows moving, fearing lamps hanging from the ceiling might break loose. Yet, people walking on the street, like Claudia Angélica Carrillo, told local media that she didn’t feel anything and only realized something had happened when the earthquake alarm went off.
Monday’s 4.3-magnitude earthquake was not an isolated event. The SSN reported that the previous day, at 8:17 a.m. local time, it recorded a 2.9-magnitude earthquake three kilometers southwest of San José del Cabo, with a depth of 17.7 kilometers. On the same day, at 10:08 a.m., another 2.0 magnitude earthquake occurred seven kilometers to the west.
Time's up
Officials have warned that these types of events may generate aftershocks. They have advised residents to pay attention to official statements, avoid spreading rumors or unconfirmed information and to inspect the conditions of their homes and structures, especially those with prior damage or poor construction.
The jaguar population in Mexico has risen encouragingly in the last 15 years, but experts say it could take another 30 years for it to reach sustainable numbers. (Ramon Vloon/Unsplash)
Mexico’s jaguar population is climbing, but the country’s biggest cat isn’t out of the woods yet.
A four-month census conducted last year by the National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation (ANCJ) has concluded there are 5,326 wild jaguars throughout the country — a 33% jump from 2010, when the species was labeled endangered (as it still is).
The Yucatán Peninsula is the Mexican region with the most jaguars, but they are found in 16 states, from Tamaulipas in the northeast to Chiapas in the southwest. (Wikimedia Commons)
Moreover, the 2024 figure is an 11% jump since the last such census was completed in 2018.
Those delays are not altogether surprising, considering the first census in 2008 — studying jaguar populations across 15 conservation sites — took three years to complete. The work put into that study established Mexico as a leader in conservation strategies for preserving wild jaguar populations.
According to that first census, an estimated 4,000 jaguars lived in the country, mostly in the Yucatán peninsula. The second census in 2018 found that the figure had increased to approximately 4,800.
Though the newest jaguar count is about 525 more, advocates warn the species (Panthera onca) is far from secure.
To escape extinction risk, Mexico needs at least 8,000 jaguars, a goal scientists say may take more than 30 years at the current pace.
Currently, the Yucatán Peninsula leads the nation with an estimated 1,699 jaguars. The Pacific South region has 1,541, followed by Northeast/Central Mexico with 813, Pacific North with 733 and Pacific Central with 540.
The study was conducted in 23 jaguar habitat sites in 16 states: Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche, Morelos, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas.
Researchers used 920 motion-detecting cameras over 414,000 hectares, which recorded 134 specimens: 67 females, 47 males, 12 unidentified and eight offspring. Those numbers formed the basis for the total population estimate.
Gerardo Ceballos, president of the ANCJ, an NGO, called the numbers “surprising and encouraging.”
He emphasized that threats limiting recovery remain, citing habitat loss, illegal hunting, animal trafficking, livestock-borne diseases and conflicts with people.
He credited the growing numbers partly to Mexico’s expanding protected areas, which allow the elusive predators more room to roam and breed. However, he added, 70% of the sites where jaguars live in Mexico are outside of protected natural areas.
Conservation groups are urging federal authorities and social media companies to do more to stop the illegal trade in jaguar parts.
“We want to make everyone aware that … jaguar protection is a shared responsibility,” said Humberto Pena, state strategy coordinator at ANCJ.
Ceballos said the reserves with the largest number of jaguars are Calakmul, Gran Calakmul, Balam Kú and Balam Kin (Yucatán Peninsula); Montes Azules (Chiapas); Sierra del Abra Tanchipa (San Luis Potosí); Chamela-Cuixmala (Jalisco); and Sierra de Vallejo-Río Ameca (Nayarit).
Some states, like Hidalgo, barely registered a presence for the big cats; just one sighting was recorded in the central Mexican state.
Sheinbaum nears the completion of her first year in office with an approval rating above 70%, making her the most popular president at this stage of her incumbency in decades. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Exactly 11 months after she was sworn in as Mexico’s first female leader, President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday delivered her first annual government report in a 70-minute speech, an upbeat address that focused on achievements in a range of areas, including security, the economy and health care.
“We’re doing well and we’re going to do even better,” Sheinbaum said near the end of her address, delivered at the National Palace in the historic center of Mexico City to an audience that included high-ranking federal and state officials as well as leaders in Mexico’s business community.
The president gave a nod to her predecessor and political mentor early in her speech, noting that more than 13 million Mexicans exited poverty between 2018 and 2024, a period that coincided with the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).
She made it clear that governing for women and improving their lives is a priority for her administration, and declared that she didn’t ascend to the presidency on her own, but rather “all” women and girls arrived at Mexico’s top job last October.
Sheinbaum, the leader of the “Fourth Transformation” (4T) political movement initiated by López Obrador, also asserted that the transformation is “not just continuing,” but “deepening” as well.
Before moving into the meat of her speech, she said she was at the National Palace not to offer “empty words” to the nation, but to enumerate the “results” her government has achieved in the past 11 months and which are “reflected in the daily lives of millions of Mexicans.”
Sheinbaum nears the completion of her first year in office with an approval rating above 70%, making her the most popular president at this stage of her incumbency in decades.
However, she is certainly not without her critics, facing claims as serious as that she is turning Mexico into a more authoritarian, less democratic nation — assertions that she unsurprisingly rejects.
During her report, Sheinbaum said that the government, with infrastructure projects including the construction of schools, hospitals, railroads, water systems and power plants, “is driving not just the economy,” but also looking after “people’s dignity.” (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Looming across Mexico’s 3,145-kilometer-long border with the United States is President Donald Trump, who, since returning to power in January, has pressured the Sheinbaum administration to do more to combat cartels and the drugs they traffic, and significantly undermined the USMCA free trade pact by imposing tariffs on a range of imports from Mexico, including motor vehicles.
Part of Sheinbaum’s popularity can be attributed to the way she has calmly and confidently dealt with — and won concessions from — an unpredictable and protectionist U.S. president, leading various media outlets to describe the 63-year-old former Mexico City mayor as a “Trump whisperer.”
Security
“In 11 months we’ve reduced homicides by 25%.”
One of Sheinbaum’s greatest challenges is to reduce violence in Mexico, where homicides reached an all-time high during AMLO’s six-year term.
Near the end of her address on Monday morning, the president highlighted that her government has implemented a new security strategy and sought to underscore her administration’s commitment to pacifying Mexico by noting that her security cabinet meets daily at 6 a.m. to “assess and strengthen” that strategy.
In an assertion of Mexican sovereignty amid the ongoing pressure her government faces from its U.S. counterpart, Sheinbaum stressed that her administration’s “policy for the construction of peace” is decided in Mexico without any outside influence.
“In other words, 22 fewer homicides were committed in July than in September 2024,” Sheinbaum said, without mentioning that the annual decline in murders in the first seven months of 2025 was a more modest, but still positive, 15.9%.
Sheinbaum said that even more “significant” reductions in homicides have been achieved in some of Mexico’s most violent states, including Zacatecas and Guanajuato. She avoided speaking about the sharp increase in violence in Sinaloa, where rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have been engaged in a full-blown war since the second half of 2024.
Among other security-related remarks, Sheinbaum noted that her government launched an anti-extortion strategy and reiterated that her government is committed to “zero impunity.”
“I’m certain that the new judiciary will help a lot in this process,” she said.
The economy
“We’re consolidating a new economic model that guarantees macroeconomic stability, but promotes shared prosperity.”
Sheinbaum said that the “dark, neoliberal night” in which previous governments only looked out for the interests of the top end of town was left in the past when López Obrador came to power in 2018.
She railed against past “neoliberal” governments for not seeking to redistribute wealth or play a significant role in the development of the economy and the nation.
“The experience of those decades showed that this idea was completely mistaken: without an active role of the state oriented towards social justice, the concentration of wealth only deepens inequality and leaves millions in poverty,” Sheinbaum said.
“… Fortunately, we’re consolidating a new economic model that guarantees macroeconomic stability, but promotes shared prosperity with fair salaries and welfare programs,” she said.
The president touted her government’s commitment to “honesty and republican austerity” and ran through a range of economic data as she sought to demonstrate the strength of the Mexican economy. She highlighted that:
The Mexican economy is expected to grow 1.2% this year, despite the “catastrophic” forecasts of “international financial organizations.”
The Mexican peso remains below 19 to the US dollar.
The unemployment rate is 2.7% — “one of the lowest levels in the world.”
The annual inflation rate was 3.5% in July.
The minimum wage increased 12% at the start of 2025.
Tax collection increased 8.5% annually in the first eight months of 2025.
‘Legislative transformations’
‘In the last 12 months, we experienced profound legislative transformations … that make amends for part of the damage caused by the neoliberal period and strengthen social rights, sustainability, sovereignty, freedom, and democracy.”
Sheinbaum outlined a long list of legislative changes that she asserts will make Mexico a fairer, safer, healthier and more prosperous nation.
She noted that Article 40 of the Mexican Constitution now says that “the people of Mexico, under no circumstances, will accept interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that harms the integrity, independence, and sovereignty of the nation.”
Mexico-US relations
‘We’ve managed to build a relationship of mutual respect.’
In recent months, “the whole world has faced complex situations” due to “the new tariff reality established by the United States government,” Sheinbaum said, referring to Trump’s protectionist “America First” agenda.
“Within this framework, we’ve managed to build a relationship of mutual respect,” said the president, who has spoken to her U.S. counterpart on various occasions over the past seven months but has not yet met him in person.
While the United States government has imposed tariffs on various Mexican goods, including steel, aluminum and cars, Sheinbaum asserted that Mexico, “on average,” faces the lowest U.S. duties among the countries of the world.
She said that her cabinet ministers continue to engage in talks with their U.S. counterparts, and declared that “we’re convinced that, within the framework of the [USMCA] trade agreement, we can achieve even better conditions.”
Sheinbaum also noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Mexico on Wednesday “to agree to a [new] security collaboration framework.”
“We have made it clear that the foundation of this understanding is shared responsibility, mutual trust, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and cooperation without subordination,” said the president, who revealed in May that she had rejected an offer from Trump to send the U.S. army into Mexico to combat the nation’s notorious drug cartels.
Plan México
“Throughout the entire neoliberal period, it was claimed that ‘the best industrial policy was the one that didn’t exist’ and, as a result, a good part of the country’s productive sector was dismantled. We have a different vision.”
Sheinbaum highlighted that her government presented Plan México, an ambitious industrial policy, early in its term.
Among the plan’s objectives, she said, are to “produce more” in Mexico for domestic consumption, reduce imports, “strengthen and diversify” Mexico’s foreign trade and promote public and private investment “within the framework of regional development.”
Sheinbaum highlighted that work has begun on five of 15 proposed economic development hubs that will be established in different parts of Mexico. She also said that the construction of 18 of the 100 proposed new industrial parks is underway.
While Mexico’s business community has been largely supportive of Plan México, the president called on the sector’s leaders to do even more to advance the development of the country, which is aiming to become the world’s 10th largest economy by 2030. “Mexico needs even more active and visionary businesspeople [who are] deeply committed to the future of the nation,” Sheinbaum said.
The president also outlined a range of “strategic projects” that are being carried out in Mexico, including the production of a Mexican electric vehicle (Olinia) and the “design and production” of a “cutting-edge” unmanned aerial vehicle (Quetzal).
Welfare programs
‘In 2025, we’re allocating 850 billion pesos [US $45.6 billion], 2.3% of gross domestic product, to welfare programs.”
Sheinbaum said that 32 million families across Mexico benefit from the government’s welfare programs, which include pensions for seniors, stipends for people with disabilities, scholarships for students and work schemes for young people.
She highlighted that her government created three new welfare programs, including one that provides pension payments to women aged 60-64.
Another is the “Salud casa por casa” (Health house by house) scheme, in which an army of 20,000 health care workers visit the elderly and disabled people in their homes to check up on their health.
“This is the most ambitious social plan in the history of Mexico,” said Sheinbaum, whose high approval rating is undoubtedly linked to her government’s ample support for Mexico’s most disadvantaged people.
Education
“Education is a right.”
Sheinbaum noted that her government created the Bachillerato Nacional (National High School Diploma), which she said “integrates and harmonizes” high-school education systems across Mexico’s 32 federal entities.
She also said that the government is opening this year 38,000 “new spaces” — classrooms and other facilities, including in new schools — for high school education.
“We want all adolescents to have a space to study that is close to them,” Sheinbaum said.
“Despite all the bad omens, the lies and the slander, we work every day to supply free medicines.”
Sheinbaum said that her government has opened 15 new hospitals this year and will inaugurate 16 more before the end of 2025.
She said that the construction of an additional 20 hospitals will begin soon.
Among other health care initiatives, Sheinbaum highlighted the “Rutas de la Salud” (Health Routes) program, which involves the delivery of medications and medical provisions to public health centers in government-owned vehicles.
Via Health Routes, kits containing 1,900 units of medicine and 147 essential medical items, including treatments for hypertension and diabetes, as well as basic painkillers, will be delivered monthly to each IMSS Bienestar medical unit. (@IB_Guerrero/X)
In recent years, the federal government has struggled to meet the medication needs of Mexico’s public hospital patients, including children with cancer. Countless protests against the shortages have been held, while federal authorities have responded with a range of initiatives, including the construction of a state-owned “mega pharmacy” that opened in late 2023.
Infrastructure projects
“Public investment is the engine of well-being and growth with justice”
Sheinbaum said that the government, with infrastructure projects including the construction of schools, hospitals, railroads, water systems and power plants, “is driving not just the economy,” but also looking after “people’s dignity.”
She stressed that public investment doesn’t “replace” private investment, but rather complements it.
Sheinbaum said that her government has completed a range of public infrastructure projects that were started during AMLO’s government, including the Escárcega–Chetumal section of the Maya Train railroad and the Mayo Train hotels, located at different points along the tourist train route in southeastern Mexico.
She also noted that her administration has completed various highway projects and is working on others. The president also said that the government is making progress on a range of new rail projects.
“This year we’re beginning construction of the Maya Train freight [infrastructure],” Sheinbaum noted.
During her first government report (informe de gobierno) speech, Sheinbaum also said that:
The government has supported more than 86,000 Mexicans who were deported from the United States during the second Trump administration.
“Mexico is respected in the whole world” and that “it is known that our people are noble, generous and brave, and that we’re living a stellar moment in our history.”
The “strategy” to reach self-sufficiency for beans, corn, rice, meat and milk is “advancing.”
The government is aiming to build 1.7 million homes during the current six-year term of government, with “accessible loans” on offer to low-income citizens.
Public money goes further “when there is no corruption.”
The government is committed to promoting gender equality and supporting Mexican women in a range of ways, including by working to ensure that their right to a life without violence and with access to education, health care and housing is a reality.
‘I will always honor the trust placed in me’
Near the end of her lengthy address, Sheinbaum said that “11 months of hard work” have taken place since she took office on Oct. 1, 2024. She thanked all the members of her cabinet and other government officials, as well as state governors, for “their support.”
“Amigas y amigos: We’re doing well and we’re going to do even better,” Sheinbaum said.
“… For our people, for our homeland, each hour, each minute and each breath of our days is worth it. We arrived to continue transforming the nation, for the peace and the well-being of the people,” she said.
“Rest assured that I will not betray you. With the strength of Mexico, of our people, I will walk tirelessly, with integrity, with courage, and I will always honor the trust placed in me,” Sheinbaum said before launching into a customary speech-end rendition of “Viva México,” which was enthusiastically reciprocated by those in attendance at the National Palace.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
The Mexico City government said the cause of the accidents was not a pothole, instead claiming that a manhole cover had become dislodged. (Gobierno de la Ciudad de México/Cuartoscuro)
Two athletes competing in the wheelchair division of the Mexico City Marathon on Sunday crashed after hitting a flaw in the pavement about halfway through the race, which was eventually won by Mexican Alan Frias.
During the 20th kilometer of the 42-kilometer course, race leader Colombian Francisco Sanclemente was sent sprawling to the pavement after riding over what appeared to be a pothole.
Trailing close behind, Mexican Gonzalo Valdovinos tried to veer away from Sanclemente, but was unable to avoid the same rut and his wheelchair tipped sideways.
The blow forced Sanciemente out of the race. Valdovinos — refusing the help of attendants and medical personnel on the scene — was able to get back in his chair and finish. However, his chances of winning were lost.
Despite falling behind and battling the bumps and bruises he suffered in the fall, Valdovinos — admitting later that he had to fight back tears — recovered to finish in third place.
“I climbed back into the saddle, managed to overtake quite a few [competitors] and, even though I finished third, it felt like first place to me,” he told the newspaper La Afición.
Alan Frías won first place and Gonzalo Valdovinos third place (“but it felt like winning.”) (Gobierno de Puebla)
Upon accepting his prize for finishing second in the wheelchair division, Antonio Caballero criticized the race managers for the condition of the course.
“Every year it’s the same,” he said, with Mayor Clara Brugada just behind him on the podium. “Last year, a competitor got a flat tire because of a pothole. I want to speak out for all of us because this can’t continue to happen.”
Later Sunday, the Mexico City government said the cause of the accidents was not a pothole, instead claiming that a manhole cover had become dislodged.
A press release issued by Brugada’s government celebrated the fact that the marathon ended without further incident (though it mistakenly said both competitors finished the race) and reported that the manhole cover was fixed immediately.
Tadu Abate won the men’s race in a time of 2:11:14, just 13 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Benard Kipkorir, while Bekelech Gudeta stood atop the podium in the women’s division, crossing the finish line nearly four minutes ahead of her nearest rival with a winning time of 2:23:22.
The top Mexican finisher in the men’s race was Emmanuel Reyes (2:25:54), who placed 9th, just ahead of Jesús Rendón (2:26:45).
Brenda Flores (2:43:34), Kathya Mirell García (2:44:56) and Ivon Domínguez (2:50:35) finished 8th, 9th and 10th, respectively.
Cancún International Airport will offer visitors next summer not just sun, sea and sand, but also direct flights to all the 2026 World Cup cities in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. (Shutterstock)
Cancún is the only airport in Mexico offering direct flights to all 16 host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Quintana Roo Tourism Minister Bernardo Cueto.
That unique connectivity, Cueto maintained, positions Cancún as the “gateway to the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” a strategic hub for fans and tourists traveling between the tournament’s matches.
“Quintana Roo [Cancun’s state] is much more than sun and sand,” Cueto said. “Its tourist, historical, natural, and culinary attractions make us a must-see for soccer fans visiting Mexico, the United States, and Canada in 2026.”
There are frequent flights from Cancún International Airport (CUN) to Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, the three host cities in Mexico. The 11 U.S. World Cup sites with a Cancún connection are Boston, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Atlanta. Among the various Canadian destinations with direct flights from Cancún are that country’s two World Cup hosts, Vancouver and Toronto.
Beyond the current destinations, Quintana Roo authorities are exploring the possibility of opening new direct routes from Spain, the United Kingdom and Poland, to facilitate the arrival of international travelers during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
To further strengthen Cancún’s position as an international hub for the tournament, the Quintana Roo Chamber for Tourism Promotion (CPTQ) revealed that it is holding conversations with FIFA to host a “FIFA Fan Fest,” an event that would serve as a gathering place for soccer fans to watch matches on a large screen in addition to various dynamic activities that create a vibrant World Cup atmosphere.
“It’s an ongoing initiative,” Rodrigo de la Peña, president of the Cancún, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association (AHCPMIM), told the news outlet Reportur. “.We’re working on the design of a comprehensive package that would include tickets, a giant screen area, cultural and culinary activities, and, of course, the vibe of the Mexican Caribbean.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to bring millions of international travelers to Mexico. The federal Tourism Ministry (Sectur) estimates that the country will receive up to 5 million additional tourists in 2026.
According to the Supreme Court, automated systems do not possess the necessary qualities of creativity, originality and individuality that are considered human attributes for authorship. (Cash Macanay/Unsplash)
In an era where artwork is increasingly influenced and even created by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mexico’s Supreme Court (SCJN) has ruled that works generated exclusively by AI cannot be registered under the copyright regime. According to the ruling, authorship belongs solely to humans.
The SCJN’s unanimous decision said that the Federal Copyright Law (LFDA) reserves authorship to humans, and that any creative invention generated exclusively by algorithms lacks a human author to whom moral rights can be attributed.
According to the Supreme Court, automated systems do not possess the necessary qualities of creativity, originality and individuality that are considered human attributes for authorship.
“The SCJN resolved that copyright is a human right exclusive to humans derived from their creativity, intellect, feelings and experiences,” it said.
The Supreme Court resolved that works generated autonomously by artificial intelligence do not meet the originality requirements of the LFDA. It said that those requirements are constitutional as limiting authorship to humans is “objective, reasonable and compatible with international treaties.”
It further added that protections to AI can’t be granted on the same basis as humans, since both have intrinsically different characteristics.
What was the case about?
In August 2024, INDAUTOR denied the registration application for “Virtual Avatar: Gerald García Báez,” created with an AI dubbed Leonardo, on the basis that it lacked human intervention.
The AI-created avatar in question. (SCJN)
“The registration was denied on the grounds that the Federal Copyright Law (LFDA) requires that works be of human creation, with the characteristic of originality as an expression of the author’s individuality and personality,” INDAUTOR said.
The applicant contested the denial, arguing that creativity should not be restricted to humans. In the opinion of the defendant, excluding works generated by AI violated the principles of equality, human rights and international treaties, including the United States, Mexico and Canada agreement (USMCA) and the Berne Convention.
However, the Supreme Court clarified that such international treaties do not oblige Mexico to give copyrights to non-human entities or to extend the concept of authorship beyond what is established in the LFDA.
Does the resolution allow registration of works generated with AI?
Yes, provided there is a substantive and demonstrable human contribution. This means that works created in collaboration with AI, in which humans direct, select, edit or transform the result generated by AI until it is endowed with originality and a personal touch, are subject to registration before INDAUTOR.
Intellectual property specialists consulted by the newspaper El Economista explained that to register creative work developed in collaboration with AI, it is important to document the human intervention and submit the creative process in a way that aligns with the LFDA.
