‘I, Claudia’: The Guardian profiles Sheinbaum as ‘the world’s most popular leftwing leader’

The British newspaper The Guardian recently published a long-form profile of President Claudia Sheinbaum, adding to the heightened international focus on Mexico as the country co-hosts the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup. The article was published on The Guardian website on June 11 — the opening day of the World Cup — under the headline “How did Mexico’s president become the world’s most popular leftwing leader?” It was also published as the feature story of the June 19 edition of The Guardian Weekly magazine , whose cover carried a photo of Sheinbaum along with the headline “I, Claudia: How Mexico’s president became the world’s most popular leftwing leader.” Un artículo publicado por el medio británico ‘The Guardian’ calificó a la presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, como “la líder de izquierda más popular del mundo”. También destacó que dirige un país “muy machista” y que fue elegida en medio de comentarios abiertamente… pic.twitter.com/WfYcKU8aN4 — La Jornada (@lajornadaonline) June 20, 2026 Written by Rachel Nolan, an assistant professor at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies, the article is one of numerous Mexico-focused pieces published by leading international media outlets this month. Among them are an opinion piece published by The New York Times under the headline “ Mexico Can’t Go On This Way “; an article published by The Economist under the headline “ The World Cup will test Mexico’s control over its territory “; and a story published by The Wall Street Journal under the headline “ World Cup Puts Mexico’s Cartel Crisis on the Global Stage .” Compared to those pieces , The Guardian’s profile slants positive, although it does note that Sheinbaum has major problems and major challenges to deal with. A ‘statistics person’ who has ‘changed relatively little despite her rise to power’ After a lengthy introduction based largely on an interview with Sheinbaum’s Mexico City-based dressmaker Olivia Trujillo, The Guardian’s profile notes that Mexico’s president — the country’s first female president — “is one of the most popular democratically elected leaders in the world,” with an approval rating hovering “about 70% or above.” Here is a summary of 10 other key points in the article, which notes that Sheinbaum has a background as both an academic and an activist . ‘Confidently Wrong about President Sheinbaum’s Performance’: A new podcast episode by Mexico News Daily The Guardian highlights that Sheinbaum is “an inspiration” for many leftists around the world. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani “has signalled his admiration for Sheinbaum on many occasions, saying she ‘has shown what can be won when you’re willing to fight,'” Nolan writes. The Guardian writes that “[d]eftly running down the clock during tariff negotiations with Donald Trump last year was a demonstration of [Sheinbaum’s] signature attitude, which she calls cabeza fría , coolheadedness under pressure.” The Guardian notes that Sheinbaum is a very different leader to her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador. “Where AMLO, as he is known, was flamboyant, she is subdued. Where he was impulsive, she is cautious. Where he was a politician to the bone, she is a former professor,” Nolan writes. The Guardian seeks to dispel the assertion (by government critics and others) that Sheinbaum is a puppet of AMLO. “According to those inside Morena, AMLO has not been picking up the phone to bother his protege, though a common debate among the chattering class in Mexico is whether the continued dominance of his loyalists means that Sheinbaum holds little power,” Nolan writes. While Sheinbaum’s leadership style and background are different from those of AMLO, their politics are very similar, The Guardian notes. “Sheinbaum has so internalised AMLO’s politics that interventions from him are unnecessary,” Nolan writes. The Guardian says that Sheinbaum’s two biggest challenges as president “are tightly linked.” The “first is tackling what is usually – but somewha