Introduction
It seems like a century, but it’s only been one year—the first of four or the fifth if we consider Donald Trump is now in his second term as President of the United States.
Trump’s Evolution
In 2017, Trump appeared improvised, as if he couldn’t believe he had truly become president. However, Trump 2.0 in his second term is clearly prepared, having structured an agenda and team with a questionable yet solid ideology.
Mexico’s Irony
For Mexico, Trump 2.0 is ironic because this more radical figure curiously mirrors Mexican styles. The Republican seems to have taken a “sabatical quartrienio” and earned a doctorate in populism under the informal tutelage of López Obrador.
Symbols and Methods
Today, Trump employs symbols that resemble the lopezobradorista style. From his “Happy Trump” pin, a version of the “Amlito,” to daily confrontational rhetoric aiming to monopolize the national narrative.
Juan Trump, as he called AMLO, taught the reelected U.S. President that symbolism and systematic attacks on institutions are more than just noise; they’re tools for total control.
Discipline and Populism
Trump’s discipline has allowed him to perfect all those populist methods, with the added advantage of sitting in the world’s most powerful presidential chair.
Paradox for Mexico
The paradox for Mexico is that it has turned against its “populist mother” to use all this arsenal aimed at the country due to the absence of formal power from its friend López Obrador.
Contrasting Leadership
Unlike AMLO’s overflowing charisma facing an inexperienced Trump in his first term, Sheinbaum projects a doctrinal coldness that enforces a distance allowing the Mexican leader to maintain a forced respect relationship.
Necessity of Mexico
Despite Trump’s discomfort with Mexico’s ideological closeness to Latin American dictators, evident corruption and complicity with organized crime from some golden-cuff morenistas, and Mexico’s authoritarian moves of institutional and democratic deconstruction; the U.S. still needs its southern neighbor.
Trump’s Advantage
Evidently, Trump holds the advantage from his hegemonic position. In 2026, he will have the T-MEC renegotiation tool to impose conditions as he links trade to migration and narcotráfico agendas.
Messages in January
This month marks the beginning of Trump’s second term’s year two and serves as the January of Maduro’s capture in Caracas, sending messages about allegiance definitions.
Respect through Recognition
Trump’s respect for Sheinbaum isn’t born from affinity, as he had with his friend López Obrador, but from recognizing they share the language of power without checks.
Populism’s Upper Hand
Ultimately, first-world populism, the “Happy Trump,” demonstrates what happens when authoritarian impulses combine with the largest economic, political, and military power on the planet.
