Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has a sense of humor and isn’t afraid to use it when responding to the latest comments from Donald Trump. After Trump suggested that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed to the “Gulf of America,” Sheinbaum didn’t hold back.
At her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum showed off early maps of the Americas to remind everyone that the name “Gulf of Mexico” has been in place since the early 17th century and is recognized by the United Nations. But she didn’t stop there! She jokingly proposed that states like California and Texas could return to their old name, “America Mexicana.”
“It sounds good, doesn’t it?” she quipped to reporters in Mexico City, adding a lighthearted spin to the situation.
This back-and-forth started when Trump stirred the pot at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Besides his Gulf renaming idea, he accused Mexico of being “run by the cartels” and claimed it was a major stop for undocumented migrants heading to the US. He also doubled down on his threat to slap a 25% tariff on Mexican goods.
But Sheinbaum didn’t back down. She fired back at Trump’s comments about Mexico’s cartels, saying, “President Trump was misinformed, with all due respect.” She made it clear that Mexico is no longer under the leadership of Felipe Calderón, the former president, or Genaro García Luna, who was convicted for working with drug traffickers. “The people govern,” she emphasized.
Despite the tension, Sheinbaum remains hopeful about the future relationship between Mexico and the US. She believes that, despite the barbs, they’ll still be able to work together under Trump’s administration.
In the end, it’s clear that Sheinbaum’s response is a mix of humor and diplomacy, showing she can stand her ground while keeping the conversation light. The rivalry may continue, but Sheinbaum’s optimism suggests that good things could still come from it.
