A Year of Leadership and Popularity
One year after being inaugurated as Mexico’s first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum continues to enjoy a level of public support that many leaders can only dream of. According to an August poll by Buendía & Márquez for the newspaper El Universal, approximately 70% of Mexicans approve of her performance. While this is a slight decrease from the 80% recorded in February, it still stands in stark contrast to the approval ratings of US President Donald Trump, who hovers just over 40% eight months into his second term.
So, what has contributed to Sheinbaum’s success? Surveys indicate that one of her most popular achievements has been the expansion of social support programs for millions of citizens, including seniors, students, single mothers, and women in general. These initiatives are partly a continuation of the policies that made her predecessor and mentor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, so popular. They reflect the slogan that helped him gain power: “For the good of all, first the poor.”
Sheinbaum was elected Mexico’s first female president in June with around 60% of the vote, partly due to her promise to continue the legacy of López Obrador. However, since taking office, she has done more than simply follow his agenda. Analysts highlight three other areas where she has received praise: her handling of relations with the United States and Trump, her fight against corruption, and the upcoming soccer World Cup.
A Cool Head with Trump
The Mexican leader has earned many plaudits for her measured approach to the US president, including her mantra of keeping a “cool head.” While Trump has increased pressure on her with orders such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and declaring drug cartels as terrorist organizations—actions that could lead to using American military force on Mexican soil—Sheinbaum has maintained a diplomatic line between cooperating on security and migration while also demanding respect for Mexican sovereignty.
Although she has fulfilled many of Trump’s demands, such as increasing the number of troops at the US border to deter drug trafficking, receiving thousands of deported migrants from the US, and extraditing dozens of alleged cartel members wanted by the American government, she has also stood firm in the face of his rhetoric. During a speech at El Zócalo square in Mexico City, Sheinbaum highlighted a reduction in crime as one of her most important achievements, while also stating, “Mexico does not accept interference, does not accept interventionism—we are a free, independent and sovereign country.”
This delicate balancing act has not only enhanced her international standing but also helped her address long-standing security challenges in the country.
A Drop in Crime
In Sheinbaum’s first year, the rate of several high-impact crimes fell sharply, according to official figures. During the first 11 months of her term, 23,917 intentional homicides were recorded in Mexico, down from 31,801 during the same period under López Obrador. However, this decline has not been uniform across the country.
In the northwestern state of Sinaloa, intentional homicides increased by 400% in the year following the arrest of drug trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in July 2024, which triggered clashes between cartel factions that federal security forces have struggled to contain. Additionally, roughly 63.2% of Mexicans say they feel unsafe in their city, and most believe that security issues remain the country’s top problem, according to multiple surveys.
Fighting Corruption
Another area where Sheinbaum has gained support is her efforts to combat corruption, particularly targeting officials linked to fuel theft, a major issue in Mexico. Known locally as “fiscal huachicol,” the illegal theft of gasoline and diesel has become a significant source of revenue for criminal groups and is often fueled by government corruption.
In early September, Secretary of Security Omar García Harfuch announced that authorities had arrested 14 people allegedly involved in a large-scale fuel smuggling scheme. Among those arrested were marines, former customs officials, and businessmen. This crackdown is seen as a significant step in Sheinbaum’s campaign against corruption, with 70% of Mexicans supporting her efforts, according to a survey by Enkoll for El País newspaper and W Radio. However, experts note that progress so far is still minimal compared to the scale of the problem.
The World Cup Opportunity
While these issues have dominated Sheinbaum’s first year in office, the focus is likely to shift to Mexico’s co-hosting of the 2026 soccer World Cup with the United States and Canada. This will be the third time Mexico has hosted the tournament, having been the sole host in 1970 and 1986. On this occasion, it will host 13 games, including the opening match on June 11.
Both the government and private sector see the event as an opportunity to attract tourists and generate income, but they recognize the need to prepare infrastructure to accommodate visitors in the three cities hosting World Cup stadiums: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. There are also potential challenges, such as concerns about Mexico City’s capacity to host the tournament after recent historic rains caused floods, collapsed roadways, and disrupted the Metro system. Anti-gentrification groups have also protested the works related to the World Cup.
Sheinbaum herself has described the tournament as “a showcase for Mexico” and is expected to receive a further boost in popularity if she can manage it smoothly. This is the first time the tournament will be hosted by three separate countries, and given her skill in handling Trump, Sheinbaum already has a head start in cooperating with Mexico’s co-hosts.
