Time magazine highlighted Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum this Wednesday as one of the 100 most influential people of the year. She is the only Latin American head of state on the list and shares the 'Leaders' category with her US counterpart, Donald Trump. The publication notes that Sheinbaum is 'one of the most popular leaders in the region' and has offered 'a lesson in diplomacy' during her first year in office, since October 2024, 'under pressure from all sides,' including Trump's 'threats' to impose tariffs on Mexico and bomb its territory. Her profile, written by journalist Ioan Grillo, also highlights how the Mexican leader has faced 'violent gangsters' who traffic fentanyl and migrants on the border, as well as critics in Mexico who argued she would 'overshadow' her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. 'She struck hard at the cartels, conducted raids on laboratories, transferred their bosses to US custody and took down cartel leader 'El Mencho,' helping to prevent a more aggressive US intervention. She spoke calmly in defense of Mexican sovereignty while avoiding confrontation.' These 'victories,' the magazine argues, 'have made her one of the most popular leaders in the region' and a 'success story for mixing populism with pragmatism.' Nevertheless, the article warns of challenges such as a 'slow' Mexican economy, persistent crime, and the crisis of tens of thousands of missing persons. The 'Leaders' category also includes US President Donald Trump; his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Pope Leo XIV; and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Time magazine notes that these figures have influenced the global agenda. In Trump's case, the publication highlights his ability to 'redefine US domestic and foreign policy' through 'an expansive agenda that has altered internal balances and had a strong impact on the international stage.' Regarding Xi, editor Charlie Campbell emphasized the reinforcement of China's political and economic control and 'his strategy to expand Beijing's global influence' in a context of 'growing rivalry between powers' and 'transformation of the international system towards a more fragmented and competitive model.' In Netanyahu's profile, political scientist Ian Bremmer highlights his return to power in 2022 and his role in the reconfiguration of the Middle East, marked by the war in Gaza and rising geopolitical tensions, including the war with Iran. The text on Pope Leo XIV, signed by director Martin Scorsese, presents the pontiff as 'a figure of renewal' within the Catholic Church and the first from North America, highlighting his calls for institutional reform and his vision of a more open Church. Journalist Julia Terruso chooses Mamdani as 'one of the emerging figures in US politics' following his rise to the mayoralty of New York, noting his ability to mobilize new voters with a discourse focused on housing, public transit, and essential services, thus becoming 'a beacon of urban progress.'
