Former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has accused the United States of employing 'interventionist and unscrupulous practices' to bolster Mexico's right-wing opposition and weaken his leftist political movement. The remarks come amid escalating tension between the United States and Mexico, now led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, whom Lopez Obrador praised as the 'best president Mexico has had in our time.'
Lopez Obrador's Letter to Trump
One of Mexico's most popular political figures, Lopez Obrador has largely stayed out of the spotlight since leaving office in 2024. However, that changed with his forceful rebuke of US President Donald Trump posted on X on Wednesday. In a five-page letter, Lopez Obrador said Trump had changed since his first term, describing the president then as cooperative, pragmatic, and open to dialogue.
'Speaking from what I personally experienced and can prove, the Trump of today is different from the one I dealt with,' he wrote. He blamed Trump's transformation on what he called 'false friends and advisers, both internal and external, who have led him into vile and sinister adventures.'
Political Influence and Support for Sheinbaum
Lopez Obrador holds no official power, but he retains significant political influence, and his remarks amount to a forceful show of support for Sheinbaum, his political protege. Mexican and US officials could not be immediately reached for comment about Lopez Obrador's remarks.
After more than a year of cooperative, if often strained, relations with Washington, Sheinbaum has sharpened her rhetoric in recent days, stepping up calls to defend national sovereignty. The US Justice Department's April indictment of 10 Mexican officials over alleged drug trafficking ties has emerged as a particular sore point in relations.
Accusations of Undermining Morena Party
Lopez Obrador accused US officials of seeking to undermine Mexico's ruling Morena party, which he founded, under the guise of combating migration and narco-terrorism. He concluded, 'For the good of all, may the other Trump return.'
