Mexican President Scrambles to Save Face After Trump Goes Public with Phone Call
President-elect Donald Trump has stirred controversy by revealing details of a private phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, prompting a quick response from his counterpart.
On Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social to announce a significant breakthrough in U.S.-Mexico relations.
“Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo,” Trump wrote.
“She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border.”
He added, “We also talked about what can be done to stop the massive drug inflow into the United States, and also, U.S. consumption of these drugs. It was a very productive conversation!”
Minutes later, Trump emphasized the implications for U.S. border security, stating:
“Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately.
THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD STOPPING THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THE USA. Thank you!!!”
In response, Sheinbaum issued a carefully worded statement, seemingly designed to reframe the narrative without outright denying Trump’s claims. Her position reflects a political philosophy that differs significantly from Trump’s.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sheinbaum clarified Mexico’s stance, stating:
“In our conversation with President Trump, I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights. Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they reach the border.
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) November 28, 2024
“We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.”
Despite their differing interpretations, both leaders seemed to agree on the central point: measures will be taken to intercept migrants before they reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
The discussion reportedly originated during a post-election congratulatory call from Sheinbaum, during which Trump steered the conversation toward urgent border issues. True to his disruptive style, he transformed a routine diplomatic exchange into a high-stakes negotiation.
The impact of their conversation became increasingly evident in the weeks following the call. Facing potential tariffs and the prospect of a combative Trump administration, Sheinbaum began signaling significant policy shifts.
These developments hint at the effectiveness of Trump’s direct approach, which may already be reshaping U.S.-Mexico relations. As the nation awaits the next steps, speculation grows over what Trump’s third call with Sheinbaum might bring.