In 2025, I followed what I believe are the two most important leaders for an American Latino community that has largely been hugging the shadows of political discourse. Donald Trump of the United States and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico took office within months of each other.
Both have been working on ambitious agendas. For Trump, it was his second election as President and this time, he came well prepared to expand and execute the ideas he displayed in his first term.
Sheinbaum has been working on extending the agenda of her mentor and previous President, Lopez Obrador, who initiated what is called the Fourth Transformation. The notion classifies Mexican independence as the First Transformation, President Benito Juarez Liberal reforms in the middle of the 19th Century as the Second and the Mexican Revolution of 1910 as the Third.
The Republican Party’s Project 25 suggests plans for the President Trump that include ideas like America first, national security, immigration, the economy, government accountability beginning with reduction in force, making America affordable again, civil rights for Whites, ending weaponization of government against political opponents, closing the gap between church and state and American centered foreign policy. The President is typically addressing some of these notions with sometimes contradictory initiatives and contradictory results.
Examples of this includes his deportation of immigrants at the same time that he invites South African immigration, his promise to strengthen the economy but frustrates it by the use of tariffs that make things more expensive for consumers and closes markets for farmer. His America First rhetoric is supports things like regime change in Venezuela, his effort to grow the American military contradicted by acts to diminish military leadership, his stance on law and order counterbalanced by gross criminal behavior on the part of the administration in various areas and his plan for solving our medical insurance crisis that is really no plan.
President Sheinbaum is working off a platform that addresses the causes of violence through education and community programs, enhancing the quality and quantity of police forces including professionalizing the National Guard, strengthening intelligence and investigative capabilities to get ahead of criminal organizations and provide effective coordination across all levels of law enforcement. It is the proximity to the United States that brings to mind the famous saying, “poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States” as American money and appetite for drugs has created a major drug cartel problem that complicates its fight against corruption and violence.
Ironically, Mexico and the United States seem to be exchanging places with regard to corruption. While Mexico is struggling to eliminate abuse and privilege especially in government, the United States and its present political leadership displays a general embodiment of corruption at the highest levels.
America and its allies also appear to be splintering and going in different directions as the world order appears to be in flux. The best example is the differing views around the issue of China and Russia.
For the U.S., Russia is like an old friend that must be humored and supported even though it is complicating America’s foreign policy. For Europe, the opposite is true as Russia is seen as an existential threat that is forcing the continent to prepare for war.
For the U.S., China is a serious economic, political and military adversary. For most other allies outside of Asian area, China is a new economic, military and political reality.
Mexico seems to be caught between these two world views. Yet, it must nurture both.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
