A highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum finally took place at the FIFA World Cup draw, but it was a long time coming.
Despite Trump's focus on cracking down on the U.S.-Mexico border, their first face-to-face discussion centered on the upcoming World Cup and trade issues. The meeting was particularly notable given Trump's 10-month delay in meeting with the leader of Mexico, a country that is the United States' largest trading partner.
Originally scheduled for the Group of Seven summit in Canada, the meeting was canceled due to rising tensions between Israel and Iran. Instead, Trump, Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed soccer and trade at the Kennedy Center.
A senior White House official revealed that the three leaders met privately after the World Cup draw, with Sheinbaum expressing her intention to discuss tariffs on Mexican exports, including automobiles, steel, and aluminum. Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for all three countries and the good relationship between them.
"We agreed to continue working together on trade issues," Sheinbaum stated on X.
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement, remains in place, but scrutiny from the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ahead of a joint review in July has caused concern.
The steep drop in illegal border crossings and Trump's unrealized threats of large trade tariffs have reshaped the priorities of both countries. Before their in-person meeting, Trump and Sheinbaum had discussed these issues over the phone, along with Mexican efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking.
Despite these discussions, the meeting with Sheinbaum was delayed until Friday, even though other world leaders, including Putin and Xi Jinping, had already met with Trump.
So, what's the secret to Sheinbaum's success in dealing with Trump?
Sheinbaum has managed to navigate the relationship by showing respect to Trump, deploying humor, and pushing back respectfully when necessary. She even defused Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico by suggesting a playful counter-proposal.
Mexican officials are working hard to lessen the impact of tariffs on their economy, particularly in the automotive sector, and are defending their citizens living in the U.S. as Trump expands mass deportation operations. They also unsuccessfully lobbied against a 1% U.S. tax on remittances, which will take effect on January 1.
Trump's administration has prioritized major deportation pushes in Democratic-run cities, targeting "the worst of the worst" criminals. However, most of those detained have no violent criminal histories, and many face deportation to a homeland they no longer recognize.
The decline in illegal border crossings has shifted the focus of U.S.-Mexico relations away from immigration for the first time in recent memory. Mexican officials are now focused on cajoling countries to take back their citizens and reintegrating them to prevent them from leaving again, a major priority for the Trump administration.
Sheinbaum has also cooperated with the Trump administration on security matters, giving her security chief Omar García Harfuch more authority to address fentanyl and drug smuggling cartels. Mexico has extradited dozens of drug cartel figures to the U.S., including Rafael Caro Quintero, improving relations with the DEA.
However, not all has been smooth sailing. Trump criticized Sheinbaum for rejecting his proposal to send U.S. troops to Mexico to combat the illegal drug trade. Sheinbaum has denounced U.S. strikes on drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, and Trump has criticized her for being "afraid of the cartels."
Sheinbaum has skillfully avoided engaging in political spats with Trump, choosing to sidestep his criticism and maintain a respectful tone.
What do you think about the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico? Do you believe Sheinbaum has a unique approach to dealing with Trump? Share your thoughts in the comments!
