AMLO Accuses U.S. of Interference as Mexico-U.S. Tensions Escalate in 2026

Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has accused the United States of using “interventionist and unscrupulous practices” to strengthen Mexico’s right-wing opposition and weaken the country’s ruling leftist movement, adding a new layer of tension to already strained Mexico-U.S. relations in 2026.

In a strongly worded five-page letter published on X, López Obrador criticized U.S. President Donald Trump and alleged that Washington is attempting to undermine Mexico’s governing Morena party. The former president claimed that U.S. officials are using issues such as migration and narco-terrorism as political tools to interfere in Mexico’s domestic affairs.

Although López Obrador left office in 2024, he remains one of Mexico’s most influential political figures. His comments are widely viewed as a public show of support for current President Claudia Sheinbaum, his longtime ally and political successor. In the letter, he praised Sheinbaum, calling her the “best president Mexico has had in our time.”

The former Mexican leader also reflected on his previous dealings with Trump during the U.S. president’s first term. López Obrador said Trump was once cooperative, pragmatic, and willing to engage in constructive dialogue. However, he argued that the current version of Trump has changed significantly.

“Speaking from what I personally experienced and can prove, the Trump of today is different from the one I dealt with,” López Obrador wrote. He further claimed that Trump has been influenced by “false friends and advisers” who have pushed him toward policies he described as harmful and misguided.

Relations between Mexico and the United States have become increasingly tense in recent weeks. President Sheinbaum has adopted stronger rhetoric emphasizing Mexico’s national sovereignty. A major source of friction has been the U.S. Justice Department’s April indictment of 10 Mexican officials over alleged connections to drug trafficking organizations.

López Obrador concluded his message with a direct appeal to Trump, writing, “For the good of all, may the other Trump return,” highlighting growing concerns over the future direction of bilateral relations between the neighboring nations.