President Claudia Sheinbaum denied having a relationship with Juan Pablo Penilla, lawyer of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, after a photograph of both circulated on social media. "First, I do not know the person, but it is important to clarify that a photograph appears there where I do not know exactly in what places. It has fewer followers, less impact, and fewer trends on that network because they are false," she stated.
In a press conference, Sheinbaum commented on a survey published in El Universal that supports the approval of her government. "It's not for nothing, I say, there is a dedication to the adversaries and a thank you to the people. And if there is an investigation file, an investigation by the prosecutor's office, it should investigate and take it to the fullest consequences with anyone," she added. She also questioned that Penilla had been recognized by opposition legislators, stating: "Now it turns out that this person was awarded by the PAN, by a deputy, I understand, from the PAN. That's how it is."
Regarding the dissemination of the photograph on social media, Sheinbaum mentioned that the issue was driven by automated accounts. "They are mainly bots. Bots are artificially generated accounts that replicate news to make it trending on X," she explained. An analysis conducted by her team determined that "70% were bots this weekend and, coincidentally, they are the same bots of 'Narco president', 'Narco candidate' that were used at the time."
Sheinbaum assured that these types of strategies have less and less impact in Mexico. "That social network influences less and less, at least in Mexico. As President of the Republic, she approves a lot, something, 80%; disapproves a lot, something, 11%," she added. Regarding the photographs taken with unknown people during her tour of the country, the president pointed out: "A lot of people approach to take a photograph, and when one is in the territory, one does not know exactly who one is taking a photograph with."
Sheinbaum insisted that her government has no ties of complicity with any person investigated for crimes. "The important thing here is to say, underline, and guarantee to the people of Mexico that we do not establish relationships of complicity or collusion with anyone."
