As president, Sheinbaum enacted a series ofconstitutional reforms with the support of her legislative supermajority, including enshrining social programs into theConstitution, reversing key aspects of the 2013 energy reform to strengthen state control over the energy sector, and mandating that the minimum wage increase be above the rate of inflation.
Sheinbaum's parents were actively involved in Mexicanleft-wing circles during the 1960s, participating in protests, workers' movements, and student uprisings.[18]
In 1995, Sheinbaum joined the faculty of the Institute of Engineering at UNAM.[19] In 1999, she received the prize for being the best UNAM young researcher in engineering and technological innovation.[30]
In 2006, Sheinbaum returned toUNAM after a period in government and began publishing articles in scientific journals.[19]
During her time as a student at UNAM, Sheinbaum was a member of the University Student Council (Consejo Estudiantil Universitario),[33] a group of students that would become the founding youth movement of theParty of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).[34]
Following López Obrador’s narrow loss in the2006 presidential election, Sheinbaum was tasked with assembling a team to investigate what he described as electoral fraud.[37] The group analyzed tally sheets and used data from the Preliminary Electoral Results Program (PREP), concluding that the main irregularity was the alleged alteration of vote totals on polling station records.[38] Sheinbaum also presented video evidence of alleged violations, including tampered ballot packages and improperly sealed envelopes, in several districts.[37][38] The findings were submitted to theElectoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF) as part of a request for a full recount,[37] which the tribunal ultimately denied.[39]
In the 2015 Federal District local elections, Sheinbaum was nominated by the National Regeneration Movement (Morena) for the mayorship ofTlalpan.[41] She campaigned on a platform focused on improving public services and public spaces, reducing corruption, and implementing social programs for women and young adults.[42] She won with 29.48% of the vote, flipping the borough from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), which had governed the borough since 2000.
On 29 April 2016, city staff were ordered to demolish a wall that had been built illegally adjacent to a chapel (Capilla del Señor de los Trabajos) in Tlalpan's Cultura Maya neighborhood.[45][46] The workers instructed to demolish the wall also destroyed part of the chapel's structure, including its sheet metal roof, and removed religious images.[47] Juan Guillermo Blandón Pérez, the parish priest, alleged that Sheinbaum was responsible for demolishing the chapel and claimed that it was carried out without prior notification.[48]
Days after the chapel's demolition, borough authorities acknowledged their error.[49] Sheinbaum met with church representatives and proposed dividing the property in half to build a new chapel and a community art center.[47]
The Colegio Enrique Rébsamen, a private school in Tlalpan, collapsed during the2017 Puebla earthquake, killing 19 children and seven adults. In September 2016, the city's Institute for Administrative Verification had ruled that the school's building infringed zoning regulations and was built higher than was allowed and that the owner, Mónica García Villegas, had presented falsified documents.[50][51] Sheinbaum faced criticism for not providing a complete account of the permits for the school's land use, construction, and operation.[52] Enrique Fuentes, a lawyer representing the deceased children's parents, stated that the mayor had an obligation to take action but had failed to do so, allowing the school to continue operating.[50]
2018 campaign for the Head of Government of Mexico City
In August 2017, Sheinbaum participated in a poll by the National Regeneration Movement to determine the party'scandidate for the head of government of Mexico City.[53] The other contenders wereMartí Batres,Mario Delgado, andRicardo Monreal. Sheinbaum secured first place with 15.9% of the vote, beating her closest opponent, Batres, by 5.8 points.[54][55] On 5 December 2017, Sheinbaum stepped down as mayor of Tlalpan to register her pre-candidacy.[56]
At her campaign launch on 1 April 2018, Sheinbaum prioritized fighting crime, stating that she would hold regular public hearings, publish reported crime statistics, and rely on the Security Council for guidance. She committed to generating 1 million jobs during her term, maintaining the universal pension for seniors, and expanding the Mexico City Metrobús system to connect the city's outskirts with the center.[8][57]
During the campaign period, Sheinbaum was accused by members ofPor México al Frente of being culpable for the collapse of the Colegio Enrique Rébsamen, a private school in Tlalpan, during the 2017 Puebla earthquake.[58]
On 1 July 2018, Sheinbaum was elected to a six-year term as the head of government of Mexico City with 47.08% of the vote, defeating six other candidates.[59]
After taking charge as head of government, Claudia Sheinbaum went to theTeatro de la Ciudad to present her cabinet.Sheinbaum with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in late 2019
On 5 December 2018, Sheinbaum was inaugurated asMexico City's head of government. She became the first elected female head of government and the first to come from a Jewish background.[3][14][28]
Sheinbaum's administration was characterized by a strong relationship with the federal government and President López Obrador. However, she took distinct approaches to certain issues, such as managing theCOVID-19 pandemic, where her scientific background shaped the city's response to the crisis.[60]
Sheinbaum implemented a security strategy based on four pillars: addressing the root causes of violence through education and community programs; enhancing the quality and quantity of the police force; strengthening intelligence and investigative capabilities; and improving coordination among law enforcement agencies.[63]
Her tenure saw several high-profile incidents, including the resignation and later indictment of her first security secretary, Jesús Orta, on federal corruption charges;[64] the attempted assassination of her second security secretary,Omar García Harfuch;[65] the escape of three inmates linked to theSinaloa Cartel;[66] and the widely publicizedfemicide of Ingrid Escamilla.[67] Between 2018 and 2022, Mexico City's homicide rate declined from 17.9 to 8.6 per 100,000 people, although the city recorded 5,078 homicides in the first 52 months of her term—more than under her three immediate predecessors.[68][69][70]
In 2019, Sheinbaum declared a gender violence alert in response to rising public concern. Her administration launched a citywide hotline and built over 700 kilometers of "safe corridors" to improve security for women in public spaces.[71][72]
Sheinbaum promoted a voluntary gun buyback program, allowing residents to anonymously exchange firearms for cash. By the end of her term, the program had collected more than 6,500 weapons, including over 1,300 long guns, and had cost about MX$40 million.[73][74][75]
Her government targeted criminal groups including theJalisco New Generation Cartel andLa Unión Tepito, resulting in the arrest of multiple key figures. Analysts credited these operations to improved intelligence coordination led by Secretary of Security Omar García Harfuch.[76][77][78]
Sheinbaum also oversaw the gradual deployment of the National Guard in Mexico City. While some experts viewed the measure as a deterrent, others questioned its tangible impact on violent crime, suggesting it served more as a symbolic presence.[79][80]
In June 2019, Sheinbaum announced a new six-year environmental plan to reduceair pollution by 30%, plant 15 million trees, bansingle-use plastics and promoterecycling, build a newwaste separation plant, provide water service to every home, construct 100 kilometers of trolleybus and metrobús-only corridors, and construct and install solar panels and water heaters.[87]
Sheinbaum at the inauguration of Line 1 of the Cablebús
Sheinbaum introduced theCablebús cable car system, with Lines 1 and 2 opening in 2021, and began construction on Line 3 the same year.[88][89] Her administration expanded the Metrobús network by 33 kilometers, electrified Line 3, and added low-emission buses to the city’sRed de Transporte de Pasajeros.[89][90]
She continued the extension ofMexico City Metro Line 12 toObservatorio station and launched a MX$37 billion modernization ofMetro Line 1 in 2022, including new trains, track replacements, and an upgraded control system.[91][92] Her administration started Observatorio's redevelopment into a major terminal connecting Lines 1, 12, and theEl Insurgente commuter rail line.[93]
Her government introduced a unified mobility card for all public transit systems and expanded cycling infrastructure with 200 kilometers of bike lanes and 2,500 newEcobici bikes.[89][94][95]
Sheinbaum announced the construction of vehicular bridges to improve road connectivity. Three notable projects included the Cuemanco Bridge, which connected Periférico Oriente withCanal Nacional; a new junction linkingCircuito Interior withEje 6; and Las Adelitas Bridge, which connected Circuito Interior with Gran Canal.[96]
Sheinbaum faced criticism for the management of the budget allocated to public transportation. Although she claimed that there were no cuts and that resources for the Metro were increased, budget data showed fluctuations in the allocation of funds for different transportation systems between 2018 and 2023.[97]
Other infrastructure projects, such as the renovation of Mexico City Metro Line 1, the extension of Mexico City Metro Line 12 to Observatorio, the construction of the Interurban Train Mexico City–Toluca, and Line 3 of the Cablebús, remained incomplete at the time of her resignation to seek her party's presidential nomination.[98]
In 2019, Sheinbaum implemented a gender-neutral uniform policy for students in state-run schools, allowing them to wear uniforms of their choice regardless of gender.[99] In 2021, Sheinbaum removed a statue ofChristopher Columbus from Mexico City'sPaseo de la Reforma as part of what she called a "decolonization" exercise.[100][101][102]
Sheinbaum wearing a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic on 12 August 2021
Shortly after the firstCOVID-19 case in Mexico City was confirmed on 28 February 2020, Sheinbaum addressed the city, emphasizing that although the risk was low, the population needed to stay informed through official sources.[103] On 19 March, Sheinbaum urged residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of infection. She also advised those with symptoms to text a hotline for guidance instead of going to hospitals to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system.[104] On 22 March, Sheinbaum announced the closure of commercial establishments, cultural venues, sports facilities, and religious spaces.[105]
López Obrador and Sheinbaum had differing views on using face masks: Sheinbaum encouraged Mexico City residents to wearface masks, while López Obrador frequently did not wear them in public.[106] During her administration, over 200,000 kits containingivermectin were distributed to patients diagnosed with COVID-19 without their knowledge.[107][108]
At around 10:22 p.m. on 3 May 2021, several girders, part of the tracks, and two wagons of Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro collapsed between theOlivos andTezonco stations. The casualties were 26 dead, 80 injured, and five missing. Line 12 of the Metro had been inaugurated on 30 October 2012 by the head of government of Mexico City,Marcelo Ebrard, and the president of Mexico,Felipe Calderón.[110]
Engineering flaws that had existed prior to the line's inauguration became worse over time, necessitating maintenance repairs over the next three years, including an unprecedentedclosure of the line to re-shape some sections of tracks and to replace the rails; most of these improvements were carried out during the term ofMiguel Ángel Mancera as Head of Government. On 4 May 2021, Ebrard, then serving asSecretary of Foreign Affairs, said that the work was definitively delivered in July 2013, after reviews carried out for seven months, and expressed his willingness to respond and collaborate in the event of any request from the authorities.[111]
Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a Norwegian company in charge of investigating the causes of the collapse of Metro Line 12, detected that one of the beams that collapsed already had structural failures since before the earthquake of 19 September 2017, a factor that had caused problems in the elevated section of the line that collapsed.[112] On 28 June 2021, Sheinbaum dismissed the general director of the Mexico City Metro,Florencia Serranía Soto [es].[113]
Some political observers suggested that the political fallout from the disaster could harm Sheinbaum'scandidacy in the 2024 presidential election.[114][115] Alejo Sánchez Cano, editor of the Mexico City daily newspaperEl Financiero, opined that Sheinbaum's responsibility was unavoidable, stating that after having been in office for two and a half years, she failed to maintain the Metro system.[116]
Sheinbaum receiving a certificate confirming her as the presidential nominee forSigamos Haciendo Historia on 19 November 2023
On 12 June 2023, Sheinbaum announced that she would resign as head of government of Mexico City on 16 June to contend in the internal selection process to select ade facto presidential candidate forJuntos Hacemos Historia, a coalition encompassing Morena, the Labor Party, and theEcologist Green Party of Mexico.[117][118][119] Speculation regarding her nationality emerged after former presidentVicente Fox referred to her as a "Bulgarian Jew". In response, Sheinbaum released her birth certificate, showing she was born in Mexico City.[120]
The coalition's internal process consisted of five polls from 28 August to 4 September. On 6 September, Sheinbaum was declared the winner, securing 39.38% of the vote and defeating her closest opponent, former foreign secretary Marcelo Ebrard, by around 13 points.[9] On 19 November 2023, Sheinbaum was registered as the presidential nominee ofSigamos Haciendo Historia, the successor coalition toJuntos Hacemos Historia.[121] Sheinbaum formally registered her candidacy at theNational Electoral Institute (INE) on 18 February 2024.[122]
Sheinbaum at the start of her campaign in the Zócalo of Mexico City on 1 March 2024
On 1 March 2024, Sheinbaum launched her campaign at theZócalo, outlining her proposals and emphasizing her commitment to continuing President López Obrador'sFourth Transformation policies.[123] She pledged to pass "Plan C", a package of eighteen constitutional amendments proposed by López Obrador earlier that year, which include increasing the minimum wage above inflation, elevating social programs to constitutional law, andelecting judiciary members by popular vote.[124][125] She also proposed replicating her Mexico City security strategy nationwide, introducing a constitutional amendment to prevent reelection for any popularly elected position, and implementing new social programs for students frompreschool tosecondary education and women aged 60 to 64.[126]
The election took place on 2 June 2024, with Sheinbaum being projected the winner by the INE's quick count at 11:50 CST, making her the virtual president-elect.[131] On 6 June, district tallies confirmed that Sheinbaum won alandslide victory.[132] She received the highest number of votes ever recorded for a candidate in Mexican history, carried 31 out of 32 states, and achieved 59.76% of the vote, the highest vote percentage since free and fair elections began in Mexico.[133]
Sheinbaum during an event to celebrate her declaration as president-elect of Mexico on 15 August 2024
Following her victory, Sheinbaum met with President López Obrador to outline the presidential transition and her legislative agenda for the early months of her administration.[134] She detailed that her priorities included new social programs for primary school students and women aged 60 to 64, modifications to the pension system for government employees, and a ban on reelection for any popularly elected position.[135] While Sheinbaum voiced support for López Obrador's judicial reform, she agreed to open nine discussion forums to address its most controversial aspects.[136][137]
Sheinbaum rolled out her cabinet appointments in phases, beginning with the first announcements on 20 June.[138] In early August, she met with governors and governors-elect to outline key projects for her 2025 budget.[139][140] Sheinbaum also pledged to continue López Obrador's morning press conferences, known asmañaneras, at 7:00 AMCST.[141]
After theLXVI Legislature was sworn in on 1 September, several of her campaign promises that stemmed from López Obrador's "Plan C" were either fully or partially passed byCongress. The judicial reform and the transfer of theNational Guard to theSecretariat of National Defense were passed by both chambers,[142][143] while the increases in the minimum wage above inflation and the elevation of certain social programs to constitutional status were approved solely by theChamber of Deputies.[144][145]
Andrés Manuel López Obrador hands the presidential sash to Ifigenia Martínez, who then presents it to Sheinbaum during her inauguration on 1 October 2024.
Sheinbaum was sworn in as president on 1 October 2024, becoming the first woman, as well as the first person with Jewish heritage,[b] to hold the office.[147][148][149] The presidential sash was handed to her byIfigenia Martínez, thepresident of the Congress of the Union and a prominent figure for the Mexican left.[150][151] In her address to Congress, Sheinbaum thanked her predecessor, highlighted her historic election as the first woman to the presidency, pledged responsible fiscal policies, and reassured foreign investors.[152]
Her inauguration was attended by 105 representatives from various countries, including 16 heads of state and 23 delegates from international organizations.[153] Notable attendees included Brazilian presidentLula da Silva, Chilean presidentGabriel Boric, Colombian presidentGustavo Petro, former German presidentChristian Wulff, and US first ladyJill Biden.[154] KingFelipe VI of Spain was controversially not invited, with Sheinbaum citing his failure to respond to López Obrador's 2019 letter requesting an apology for the abuses committed during theSpanish conquest.[155][156] This prompted a boycott by the Spanish government.[157]
Sheinbaum expanded the federal cabinet by creating three new secretariats: the Secretariat of Women (replacing theNational Institute for Women [es]), the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (replacingCONAHCYT), and the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency.[166][167] She also replaced the Secretariat of the Civil Service with theSecretariat of Anticorruption and Good Governance.[166]
Sheinbaum during a morning press briefing on 11 October 2024
Sheinbaum continued her predecessor's practice of holding "mañaneras", regular press briefings in the morning.[168]
On 2 October 2024, the anniversary of theTlatelolco massacre, Sheinbaum issued a decree acknowledging the State's responsibility for the killings.[169] The decree included a public apology, which was delivered by Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez.[170][171]
Sheinbaum at the 2025Cry of Dolores at the National Palace, Mexico City, marking the first time the ceremony was led by a woman.
Faced with what many described as a looming constitutional crisis,[172][173] Sheinbaum rejected a Supreme Court proposal to strike down parts of the judicial reform bill passed by López Obrador, asserting that the judiciary has no authority to review constitutional amendments and signaling she would not comply with any adverse ruling.[174][175] She subsequently published a bill enshrining constitutional supremacy, which limited legal challenges to constitutional amendments strictly to procedural grounds.[176]
Sheinbaum’s security strategy is built around four core pillars: addressing the root causes of violence, strengthening the National Guard, enhancing intelligence and investigative capabilities, and maintaining constant communication between the security cabinet and the country'sfederative entities.[177] She appointedOmar García Harfuch to head theSecretariat of Security and Civilian Protection (SSCP), a role he previously held in her Mexico City cabinet.[178] Her administration adopted a more hard-handed approach toward organized crime, with the SSCP going after organized crime's logistical networks and "violence generators",[179][180] marking a departure from López Obrador's "hugs, not bullets" strategy.[181][182][183] The SSPC's powers were expanded through legislation that facilitated closer collaboration with theAttorney General's Office, improved intelligence gathering across all levels of government, and allowed the SSPC to request information from any agency for criminal investigations.[184][185] Her administration expanded the catalogue of crimes subject to mandatorypre-trial detention, includingextortion,contraband, the use of false tax receipts, and activities related to the production, trafficking, and distribution of synthetic drugs such asfentanyl and its derivatives.[186][187] She also continued the militarization of the National Guard, endorsing its continued integration into the Secretariat of National Defense, and launched a nationwidegun buyback program calledSí al Desarme, Sí a la Paz (lit.'Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace') to reduce the number of weapons in circulation.[188]
During the first months of Sheinbaum's administration, the homicide rate decreased by approximately 25%, with daily homicides falling from 86.9 at the start of her term to 64.5 as of May 2025.[189] Other high-impact crimes, including kidnappings and bank robberies, also decreased during this period, although incidents of extortion and the number of disappearances have continued to rise,[190] with about 8,000 new cases ofdisappeared persons reported during the same period.[191] The administration reported significant increases in drug seizures; by June 2025, authorities had confiscated approximately 178 tonnes of narcotics, including 3 million fentanyl pills, from 1,150 clandestine laboratories.[192][193] Efforts to combat fuel theft, known ashuachicol, were also expanded, with multiple seizures conducted at sea and at illegal refineries across the country.[194]
Despite reported gains, Sheinbaum's presidency has been marked by ongoing cartel violence. Across the country,political assassinations have continued at a high pace, leaving local officials particularly vulnerable.[195][196]Clashes between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel contributed to a more than 400 percent increase in homicides inSinaloa during the first half of 2025, prompting federal deployment of additional forces and arrests of mid-to-high ranking members of both factions.[197][198] In March 2025, authorities discovered atraining camp in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, allegedly used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) as a forced recruitment center, which resulted in the arrest of a dozen people, including the municipality's mayor and alleged CJNG recruiter "El Comandante Lastra".[199][200] Violence inMichoacán also intensified, defined by a turf war between the CJNG andCárteles Unidos that has led to rampant extortion of the state's avocado and lime industries and a wave of assassinations targeting public and community leaders, including the murder ofUruapan's mayor,Carlos Manzo.[201][202][203]
Sheinbaum continued elements of the energy nationalism advanced by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, aiming to strengthen the state-ownedFederal Electricity Commission (CFE) andPetróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).[204] On 30 October 2024, she published a constitutional amendment that reclassified both entities as public institutions and established a mandate for the CFE to retain 54 percent of the national electricity generation market, with the remaining 46 percent allocated to private producers.[205] Her administration also revised oil production targets, setting a goal of 1.8 million barrels per day—lower than the 2 million barrels pursued under López Obrador.[206]
During her presidency, Sheinbaum made the expansion of Mexico’s passenger rail network a central element of her infrastructure agenda, promoting state-led development of intercity rail and enacting a constitutional amendment restoring federal authority over passenger rail operations.[207] Her administration announced plans to construct approximately 3,000 kilometres of new lines, including the Mexico–Pachuca, Mexico–Nuevo Laredo, and Mexico–Nogales lines.[208][209] She also oversaw the inauguration of the final sections of theTren Maya in 2024,[210][211][212] and in February 2026 she inaugurated theSanta Fe–Observatorio section ofTren El Insurgente, completing the Mexico City–Toluca interurban rail link begun in 2014.[213]
Sheinbaum continued the centralization of executive authority by dissolving seven autonomous agencies in late 2024: theFederal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), theFederal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE), theNational Institute for Transparency (INAI), the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH), theNational Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL), and the National Institute for the Evaluation of Education (MejorEdu).[216] Their functions were transferred to various cabinet ministries in what the administration described as an effort to streamline government operations and reduce public spending, though critics argued that the measure undermined transparency, regulatory independence, and checks on executive power.[217][218][219]
On 5 February 2025, Sheinbaum submitted a constitutional reform proposal to Congress aimed at prohibiting immediate reelection and barring family members of sitting officeholders from running for the same position.[220] Although Sheinbaum initially proposed the reforms take effect in 2027, the Senate postponed implementation until 2030.[221] The bill was published on 1 April.[222]
TheCoordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) organized repeated strikes, work stoppages, and protest encampments, pressuring the government to fulfill campaign promises regarding the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law and the improvement of pension benefits.[223][224] In the fall of 2025, widespread farmer strikes and highway blockades erupted across multiple states, with agricultural workers and truckers demanding higher guaranteed crop prices, improved highway security, and the rejection of a water reform bill promoted by the government; these actions frequently paralyzed transport routes leading into Mexico City.[225] In November 2025, aseries of demonstrations opposing the administration—sparked in part by the assassination of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo—took place in several cities; Sheinbaum characterized the protests as politically motivated and lacking organic support.[226][227]
Sheinbaum expanded federal social programs including the introduction of the Women's Wellbeing Pension (Pensión Mujeres Bienestar), which provides bimonthly financial assistance to senior women aged 60 to 64,[228][229][230] and the launch of the House to House Health (Salud Casa a Casa) program, which delivers home-based medical care to elderly people and individuals with disabilities.[231] She also renamed the Benito Juárez Scholarship (Beca Benito Juárez) to the Rita Cetina Gutiérrez Universal Scholarship (Beca Universal Rita Cetina Gutiérrez), expanding it to provide bimonthly financial aid to all families with children enrolled in the publicbasic educational system.[232] On 2 December 2024, Sheinbaum elevated several social programs to constitutional law.[233] Her administration has continued to prioritize social spending in budget allocations, with social program spending equivalent to approximately 3% of gross domestic product, according to the 2026 budget.[234]
Sheinbaum proposed a constitutional reform providing that annual minimum wage increases may not be set below the inflation rate; while the reform had not yet been enacted,[235] wage policy has been implemented in line with this framework, with the daily minimum wage set at MX$278.80 and later increased to MX$315.04 for 2026, consistent with a stated objective of reaching the equivalent of 2.5food baskets by 2030.[236] The administration also formalized theLey Silla, granting service-sector workers the right to seating and rest periods,[237] enacted a reform regulating digital platform work that extendsIMSS social security coverage and mandatory occupational accident insurance to active platform workers,[238] and reached a tripartite agreement to gradually reduce the legal workweek from 48 to 40 hours beginning in 2027.[239]
In November 2024, Sheinbaum took her first trip abroad as president to attend theG20 summit. At the summit, she proposed allocating 1% of global military spending toreforestation efforts and advocated for expanding theUnited Nations Security Council to include seats for Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and small island nations.[240][241] Sheinbaum also held bilateral meetings with U.S. presidentJoe Biden, Canadian prime ministerJustin Trudeau, Chinese leaderXi Jinping, French presidentEmmanuel Macron, and the leaders ofMIKTA member states.[242] In August 2025, Sheinbaum's government announced that it plans to increase tariffs on imports from China.[243] The Chinese government warned Mexico against tariffs and said it would retaliate against the measure.[244]
Sheinbaum has maintained a neutral stance on international conflicts, stating that Mexico’s foreign policy is guided by Article 89 of theMexican Constitution, which emphasizesnon-intervention, theself-determination of peoples, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.[245][246]
Sheinbaum and US president Joe Biden in November 2024
In October 2024, Sheinbaum's administration resumed diplomatic relations with theU.S. ambassador to Mexico,Ken Salazar, which had been suspended by López Obrador due to U.S. criticism of Mexico's judicial reforms.[254] New diplomatic protocols were established, preventing the ambassador from speaking directly with members of theMexican cabinet.[255][256] Following the2024 United States presidential election, Sheinbaum congratulatedDonald Trump on his victory,[257] though relations soon faced renewed strain after Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican imports over migration and security concerns. Sheinbaum warned of reciprocal measures while calling for dialogue and reiterated Mexico’s criticism of the flow of U.S.-sourced firearms into the country.[258][259][260][261]
In early 2025, negotiations led to the temporary suspension and later indefinite delay of the proposed tariffs, following agreements on enhanced border enforcement and cooperation against arms trafficking.[262][263][264] During this period, Mexico extradited high-profile criminal suspects to the United States, which the Sheinbaum administration described as evidence of ongoing security cooperation conducted within Mexico’s legal framework.[265][266] Sheinbaum firmly rejected U.S. proposals to designate Mexicandrug cartels asforeign terrorist organizations, arguing that such a move would violate Mexico’s sovereignty and risk justifying foreign intervention. She also publicly opposed any suggestion of U.S. military action on Mexican territory, reiterating that security cooperation must exclude external intervention.[267][268] Bilateral relations were further strained by disputes over water deliveries under the1944 Water Treaty, with Sheinbaum defending Mexico’s compliance efforts amid drought conditions while engaging in negotiations to prevent escalation.[269][270] Sheinbaum's reserved responses to Trump, characterized by an emphasis on dialogue and de-escalation, have been praised domestically and internationally.[263][271][272]
In April 2025, Sheinbaum moved to outlaw foreign propaganda in response to ananti-migrant advertisement broadcast on Mexican TV that was paid for by the Trump administration.[273]
Sheinbaum has condemned U.S. military operations abroad as violations of international law. FollowingUnited States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, she described war as "humanity’s greatest failure," quotingPope Francis, and called for theUnited Nations to assume a leading role in international peacebuilding efforts.[274] She later strongly condemned theU.S. military operation in Venezuela on 3 January 2026, citing Article 2 of the United Nations Charter and urging the United States to comply with international law and end what she described as acts of aggression against the Venezuelan government and people.[275]
Throughout her first year in office, Sheinbaum maintained high public approval ratings, consistently polling above 70%.[276][277] Between January and April 2025, her approval rose to approximately 80%, a surge that several analysts described as arally ’round the flag effect following her initial handling of tariffs imposed by U.S. PresidentDonald Trump.[277][278] By December 2025, surveys byEnkoll andEl Financiero indicated that her approval had moderated to approximately 70%, coinciding with heightened public concern over violence in states such as Michoacán and broader economic uncertainty.[279][280][281] Despite this decline, her disapproval rating remained comparatively low, at about 24%, and her approval continued to exceed that of her predecessor, López Obrador, at the same point in his presidency.[276][282]
Demographically, Sheinbaum’s strongest support has been recorded among older adults, with approval ranging from 72% to as high as 86% in late 2025. This demographic is frequently cited as the primary beneficiary of the administration's expanded social programs.[282][283] Support has been lower among younger voters, with approval among those aged 18-24 polling between 57% and 66%.[282][284]
Sheinbaum is a self-describedfeminist, aligning her beliefs and actions with the principles of gender equality and women's rights.[285] She advocates for the legalization ofabortion, aligning her stance with broader movements aimed at promoting reproductive rights and autonomy for women.[286] During her leadership in Mexico City, Sheinbaum implemented a gender-neutral policy regarding school uniforms in state-run schools and championedLGBT rights.[287] In 2022, she became the first head of government of Mexico City to attend thecity's gay pride march.[288]
Sheinbaum has criticized theneoliberal economic policies of past presidents of Mexico, arguing that they have contributed to inequality in the country.[289] She has promised to expand welfare under her presidency[290] and intends to continue programs started by López Obrador, such as universal pension.[291]
Sheinbaum has a background in environmental policy, having served as Minister of the Environment for Mexico City and worked on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),[292] which would go on to win the panel aNobel Peace Prize.[293] In her tenure as Minister of the Environment, she saw a marked reduction in air pollution and created community ecological reserves.[294] She has both spoken in favor of clean energy and support of oil, praisingPEMEX (the nation's state-owned oil company).[295]
In 1986, Sheinbaum metCarlos Ímaz Gispert, who later became a prominent political figure in the PRD during his tenure atStanford University. They married in 1987 and divorced in 2016.[296] They have a daughter who was born in 1988.[296]
In 2016, she began datingJesús María Tarriba Unger, a financial risk analyst for theBank of Mexico, who she had known as a university student.[297][296]In November 2023, Sheinbaum announced her marriage to Tarriba via social media.[297] The two married in a small civil ceremony.[296]
Jesus Silva Herzog Award (1995). Awarded by the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Institute for Economic Research for her outstanding contributions in the field of economics.[302]
UNAM Prize for Young Academics (2001). Awarded for her contributions to academia while working at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.[303]
The Sustainability Medal (2024). Awarded by the Nobel Sustainability Trust[304] for her global leadership in sustainability and climate change policies.[305]
Sheinbaum was part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) team that received theNobel Peace Prize in2007 for their work on advancing the understanding of man-made climate change.[303]
Sheinbaum is the author of over 100 articles and two books on energy, the environment, andsustainable development.[306] A selection follows:
Consumo de energía y emisiones de CO2 del autotransporte en México y Escenarios de Mitigación, Ávila-Solís JC, Sheinbaum-Pardo C. 2016.
Decomposition analysis from demand services to material production: The case of CO2 emissions from steel produced for automobiles in Mexico, Applied Energy, 174: 245–255, Sheinbaum-Pardo C. 2016.
The impact of energy efficiency standards on residential electricity consumption in Mexico, Energy for Sustainable Development, 32:50–61 Martínez-Montejo S.A., Sheinbaum-Pardo C. 2016.
Science and Technology in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 14:2 – 17. Imaz M. Sheinbaum C. 2017.
Assessing the Impacts of Final Demand on CO2-eq Emissions in the Mexican Economy: An Input-Output Analysis, Energy and Power Engineering, 9:40–54, Chatellier D, Sheinbaum C. 2017.
Electricity sector reforms in four Latin-American countries and their impact on carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy, Ruíz- Mendoza BJ, Sheinbaum-Pardo C.Energy Policy, 2010
Energy consumption and related CO2 emissions in five Latin American countries: Changes from 1990 to 2006 and perspectives, Sheinbaum C, Ruíz BJ, Ozawa L.Energy, 2010.
Mitigating Carbon Emissions while Advancing National Development Priorities: The Case of Mexico, C Sheinbaum, O Masera,Climatic Change, Springer, 2000.
Energy use and CO2 emissions for Mexico's cement industry, C Sheinbaum, L Ozawa,Energy, Elsevier, 1998.
Energy use and CO2 emissions in Mexico's iron and steel industry, L Ozawa, C Sheinbaum, N Martin, E Worrell, L Price,Energy, Elsevier, 2002.
New trends in industrial energy efficiency in the Mexico iron and steel industry, L Ozawa, N Martin, E Worrell, L Price, C Sheinbaum,OSTI, 1999.
Mexican Electric end-use Efficiency: Experiences to Date, R Friedmann, C Sheinbaum,Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 1998.
Incorporating Sustainable Development Concerns into Climate Change Mitigation: A Case Study, OR Masera, C Sheinbaum,Climate Change and Development, UDLAP, 2000.
^Flores, José Luis (21 November 2000)."Presenta AMLO su gabinete" [AMLO presents his cabinet].El Universal (in Spanish).Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved2 July 2018.
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^"Pensión Mujeres Bienestar" [Women's Wellbeing Pension].Gobierno de México, Programas para el Bienestar (in Spanish). 8 October 2024. Retrieved15 October 2024.
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