Opponents accuse her administration of tolerating criminal groups and failing to back local leaders who resist them. Although her approval rating remains high, around 70%, the latest unrest poses a growing political threat.
Critics also point to her rejection of U.S. military assistance earlier this year, offered by former President Donald Trump to help combat cartels.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio recently reiterated American willingness to support Mexico, saying, “There are many types of things we can do if they ask us to.” He warned that journalists, judges, and politicians remain vulnerable in regions where cartels “are more powerful than local and national forces.”
Despite the violence, Rubio noted that bilateral cooperation “is at its highest point in history.”
Future of the Narco-state Unknown
As demonstrations reached the National Palace, some protesters demanded President Sheinbaum’s resignation, accusing her of protecting cartels or failing to confront them.
“They say they’re done with this narco-state,” one observer noted, “and they want the government to take a much stronger stance against organized crime.”
