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🚨 Chihuahua security row: Sheinbaum said her government had no knowledge of a joint operation between Chihuahua state and U.S. authorities that left two U.S. Embassy staffers and two senior Chihuahua officials dead in a car accident Sunday. She stressed that security cooperation is a federal matter and that states cannot independently enter into agreements with the U.S. Sheinbaum said her administration is reviewing whether national security law was broken.
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✈️ Sheinbaum says she is a “normal person.” Asked about flying economy to Barcelona for a summit with the leaders of various countries, Sheinbaum said holding the presidency doesn’t entitle her to special privileges, adding that she doesn’t share the outlook of past presidents who failed to “connect with the people.”
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🇪🇺 EU trade deal imminent: Sheinbaum said that Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco is in Brussels arranging a May visit by European officials to Mexico City to formally sign the modernized Mexico-EU trade agreement
Why today’s mañanera matters
The most significant revelation at President Sheinbaum’s Monday morning press conference was that the federal government wasn’t aware that the Chihuahua government was collaborating with U.S. officials on security matters on the ground in the northern border state.
Given Sheinbaum’s steadfast opposition to U.S. involvement in security operations in Mexican territory, it is embarrassing for her to have to concede that Chihuahua and U.S. authorities were working together without her knowledge. If the accident that claimed the lives of two Chihuahua officials and two U.S. officials on Sunday hadn’t occurred, the federal government could have conceivably remained in the dark about the collaboration.
Also of note at Monday’s mañanera was Sheinbaum’s defense of her decision to fly economy class to and from Spain in recent days.
After fatal accident, Sheinbaum says federal government was unaware of security collaboration between US and Chihuahua
Sheinbaum told reporters that her administration was unaware that the government of the northern state of Chihuahua has been collaborating with U.S. authorities on security tasks.
Her remarks came after two U.S. Embassy personnel and two high-ranking security officials in the Chihuahua government were killed in a car accident in Chihuahua early Sunday. The Mexican and U.S. officials were returning from an operation in which clandestine drug labs were shut down, according to the Chihuahua attorney general.
Sheinbaum said that the decision to involve U.S. personnel in the operation was made by the government of Chihuahua.
“We’re asking for more information from the government of Chihuahua,” she added.
After expressing sorrow over the deaths of the officials, Sheinbaum said that her administration is also seeking information from the U.S. government about the security collaboration in Chihuahua.
“[We’re] reviewing whether there was any violation of the National Security law,” she added.
“No estábamos enterados”. Sheinbaum exige a Chihuahua información sobre qué hacían en México los dos funcionarios de la embajada estadounidense que murieron en un supuesto accidente tras operativo antidrogas.https://t.co/8j5XP9noKA pic.twitter.com/A3AKuU1YBS
— Emeequis (@emeequis) April 20, 2026
Sheinbaum subsequently reiterated that her government cooperates with U.S. authorities on security issues, but stressed that “there are no joint operations” in Mexico — at least not ones that have been authorized by the Mexican government.
She emphasized that the state of Chihuahua — which is governed by the opposition National Action Party — cannot legally enter into its own security agreements with the United States.
“The [security] relationship [with the U.S.] is federal, not state level,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexico’s states “have to have authorization from the federal government for this [kind of] collaboration,” she said, adding that “the constitution establishes that.”
Sheinbaum describes herself as a ‘normal person’ after flying coach to Spain
A reporter noted that Sheinbaum flew to Spain on a commercial airline to attend a meeting in Barcelona with the leaders of countries including Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. The president also returned to Mexico in economy class.
“I was on the same flight,” the reporter said before asking Sheinbaum about her experience taking photos and engaging with other passengers on a commercial aircraft.
Sheinbaum responded by describing herself as a “normal person.”
“Even though I’m president, that doesn’t mean I stop being a common human being,” she said.
“I have a responsibility, I was elected by the people and I assume my responsibility, but that doesn’t mean [I should have] special privileges,” Sheinbaum said.
She went on to say that she takes appropriate “security measures” when traveling, but asserted that she doesn’t share “the vision” of past presidents of Mexico who didn’t “connect with the people.”
Sheinbaum highlighted that she earns a good salary compared to most Mexicans, and asserted that her wage is “sufficient recognition” for her work as president — i.e., she doesn’t need or deserve privileges such as traveling on private planes, or in first or business class.
“We’re normal people,” she said, referring to herself and other officials.
Sheinbaum acknowledged that she has used military planes when traveling in Mexico so that she can visit various parts of the country in a single day.
“But in general, we try to go on commercial flights or in vehicles,” she said.
EU representatives to come to Mexico in May to sign new trade agreement
Sheinbaum told reporters that Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco is in Brussels to “organize the visit of the European Union in May.”
European officials are coming to Mexico to sign the updated trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union, she said.
Sheinbaum said last October that “tariffs on various products” will be removed once the modernized pact enters into force.
“It greatly benefits Mexico in terms of exporting products to Europe, both agricultural and manufactured goods. So it’s very beneficial for Mexico,” she said Oct. 17.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
