On a sun-drenched afternoon in Mexico City’s iconic Zócalo square, President Claudia Sheinbaum stood before a jubilant crowd, marking her first year in office with a tone of both confidence and candor. The moment wasn’t just ceremonial—it was a reflection of a presidency that, in just twelve months, has upended expectations, navigated international turbulence, and, above all, won the hearts of millions of Mexicans.
Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, was elected in June 2024 with a decisive 60% of the vote, succeeding her mentor Andrés Manuel López Obrador. According to El Universal, her approval rating soared to 80% in February 2025 and, while it has dipped slightly to approximately 70% as of August, it remains the envy of world leaders. For context, US President Donald Trump, now in his second term, holds an approval rating of just over 40% eight months in, as reported by a CNN poll aggregate.
The roots of Sheinbaum’s popularity run deep. She has continued and expanded social support programs—initiatives that reach seniors, students, single mothers, and women—building on López Obrador’s philosophy: “For the good of all, first the poor.” These policies, according to analysts cited by CNN, have not only provided tangible relief to millions but have also reinforced a sense of continuity and stability for a country long accustomed to political volatility.
Yet, Sheinbaum’s tenure has been anything but a rote continuation of her predecessor’s playbook. She’s carved out her own approach, particularly in the realm of foreign policy. The dynamic with the United States, Mexico’s largest trading partner, has been especially fraught. President Trump’s administration has issued a series of provocative moves—from declaring Mexican drug cartels terrorist organizations, which could theoretically pave the way for US military action on Mexican soil, to the eyebrow-raising decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”
Through it all, Sheinbaum has maintained what she herself calls a “cool head.” She’s cooperated with Washington on pressing issues like migration and security, deploying more troops along the border, accepting deported migrants, and extraditing cartel suspects when requested. But she’s also drawn clear lines, asserting Mexico’s sovereignty with a firmness that resonates at home. As she declared during her anniversary speech in the Zócalo, “Mexico does not accept interference, does not accept interventionism — we are a free, independent and sovereign country.” The crowd’s response was thunderous, especially when she playfully polled them on whether the new train from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo should be called the “Gulf of Mexico Train” (the ayes had it, in case you wondered).
Trade, of course, remains a linchpin of the US-Mexico relationship. On October 6, 2025, Sheinbaum expressed confidence that her government will reach a favorable trade agreement with the United States and other nations. “I am confident we will reach a good agreement with the United States and all nations of the world regarding our trade relations,” she told the packed Zócalo square, as reported by Reuters. This optimism comes as the free trade agreement with the US and Canada—crucial to Mexico’s economic stability—faces review next year. So far, Mexico has largely avoided the brunt of Trump-era tariffs thanks to this pact. However, the country has also imposed its own tariffs on nations with which it lacks trade agreements, most notably China, a move widely interpreted as a response to US pressure amid the ongoing US-China trade war.
Beyond trade, Sheinbaum’s administration is looking to the future with a technological edge. She announced plans to unveil advances in several made-in-Mexico projects in the coming weeks, including electric vehicles, semiconductors, satellites, drones, and even a homegrown artificial intelligence laboratory. These initiatives are designed to align Mexico’s economy with the rapidly changing global trade environment and to foster domestic innovation. For a country eager to assert itself on the world stage, these projects could be game-changers.
Domestically, security and corruption remain ever-present concerns. Official statistics show a significant drop in intentional homicides—from 31,801 during López Obrador’s first 11 months to 23,917 in the same period under Sheinbaum. However, the picture isn’t uniformly rosy. In Sinaloa, violence surged 400% following the July 2024 arrest of cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, sparking bloody infighting among rival factions. A national survey cited by Times Now News found that about 63% of Mexicans still feel unsafe in their cities, and security remains the top concern for most.
Sheinbaum has also made tackling corruption a signature policy. In September 2025, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced the arrest of 14 individuals—including marines and former customs officials—accused of running a major fuel smuggling ring. The crackdown has drawn praise, with 70% of respondents in an El País and W Radio poll backing her anti-graft efforts, though experts caution that progress remains incremental and the challenge immense.
Looking ahead, the 2026 FIFA World Cup looms large on Mexico’s horizon. The country will co-host the event with the United States and Canada, staging 13 matches—including the highly anticipated opening game on June 11, 2026—in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Sheinbaum has called the tournament “a showcase for Mexico,” and officials see it as a golden opportunity to attract investment and project a modern, vibrant image of the nation to the world. Of course, infrastructure challenges and recent flooding in the capital have raised eyebrows, but expectations remain high that the event could further boost Sheinbaum’s already impressive popularity both at home and abroad.
For all her achievements, Sheinbaum’s presidency isn’t without its critics or challenges. Some analysts argue that while her diplomatic balancing act with the United States has been skillful, it’s also required significant concessions—particularly on border security and migration—that have sparked debate within Mexico’s political spectrum. Others caution that the drop in violent crime, while encouraging, masks persistent regional disparities and the ever-present threat of cartel violence.
Still, as Mexico stands at the crossroads of tradition and transformation, Sheinbaum’s leadership has brought a measure of optimism and stability that few anticipated. Her ability to keep a cool head under pressure, expand social protections, and chart a forward-looking economic course has earned her not just high approval ratings, but genuine admiration across much of the country.
With a pivotal trade review on the horizon, ambitious technological projects in the pipeline, and the world’s attention soon to be fixed on Mexico for the World Cup, Sheinbaum’s second year in office promises to be every bit as eventful as her first. For now, at least, the mood in the Zócalo—and across much of Mexico—remains one of hope and confidence in the nation’s future.
