During the last six-year term in Mexico, any individual or entity that disagreed with presidential power faced being labeled as neoliberal, corrupt, or belonging to a predatory minority. This way of acting, which evokes a certain deja vu, produced a certain chill when viewed from Mexico. In the Canadian film "The Apprentice," directed by Ali Abbasi and released in 2024, it shows how Trump learned his method from a ruthless lawyer, Roy Cohn, who led him to success in business and later in politics. The social failure in Mexico and the United States opened the doors to destructive populism that assaults institutions and wreaks havoc in their countries.
In the Mexican case, López Obrador's actions were also controversial. He defamed intellectuals, journalists, and judges, while treating drug traffickers with deference. López Obrador called to take Reforma in 2006 under fraud arguments that, to this day, he has not been able to prove. Despite the decrease in GDP and the flight of investors, the government boasted about its economic management and exercised iron-fisted leadership by manipulating the media and bending the opposition.
Both Trump and López Obrador have minimized the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic, ignored court mandates, and attempted to destroy the opposition. Their method of constantly attacking, denying everything, and singing victory has wreaked havoc in their respective countries. Trump incited a mob to storm the Capitol in 2021, and his decisions driven by his unquestionable method have shaken the world.
Both leaders share the denial of climate change and unleash their attacks against any entity that confronts them, from media outlets to human rights organizations. The magnitude of the effects of their actions can be immense, but their refusal to retract shows their belief in their infallibility. In summary, the way Trump and López Obrador have governed has demonstrated that minimizing the risks of populism can lead to devastating consequences.
