‘You Are Not Alone’, 350,000 Mexicans Back Claudia Sheinbaum

On Sunday, March 9, a reported 350,000 people filled the central Zócalo in Mexico City for a rally led by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Sheinbaum’s party MORENA clearly isn’t feeling any fatigue. Her last public address drew similar numbers less than two months ago.

Sunday’s rally was called by Sheinbaum as the threat of US tariffs continues to loom over Mexico. Despite managing to successfully negotiate a one-month delay, in the rally, Sheinbaum sought to reassure the Mexican public of the administration’s plan to keep moving forward and advancing as a nation, whether the tariffs eventually come down in full-force or not.

The Mexican public clearly found this a worthy cause, as even getting near the center of the city proved to be a massive challenge, with the center and all the surrounding streets filled shoulder-to-shoulder with people. Water bottles and nieves were passed around to battle the heat, as the Zócalo completely filled up three-hours before Sheinbaum was set to speak.

The people had one clear message for Sheinbaum, chanting: “¡no estás sola!” (you are not alone), throughout the event, reiterating to the head of state that the people stand with her as she battles with Trump over US-Mexico relations.

The Zócalo overflowing with people on March 9. Photo: Clara Brugada / X

Small merchandise stores lined the outsides of the square, where supporters of the movement picked up framed photos, t-shirts, figurines, and more of Claudia Sheinbaum and her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO).

Beyond signalling and taking advantage of her all-time high popularity, the public rally had a clear purpose: to keep the public informed of the goings-on in the relationship between the United States and Mexico.

A key strategy of MORENA has been clear, concise, and constant communication with the people about the political situation in the country and the policies the government is implementing. Both Sheinbaum and AMLO speak slowly and clearly, communicating in everyday language what’s happening in the country. A hallmark of this policy are the mañaneras, started during AMLO’s administration, which are daily morning press conferences to take questions from journalists and update and inform the public on government actions and initiatives.

Sheinbaum’s address was a clear continuation of this commitment to communication and informing the public. She clearly outlined what’s happened so far between Mexico and Donald Trump’s administration and the steps the government is taking to protect itself and its citizens from potential tariffs and other threats, such as military intervention.

Sheinbaum explains the history between the two countries, speaking directly to the people of the US

In her address, Sheinbaum outlined some of the history between the two nations.

“We do not forget the [US] invasions of 1846 and 1914, and the subsequent annexations of Mexican territory.

“But, today I want to highlight the good examples of respect for our sovereignty and of collaboration and support. For example, when Benito Juarez received invaluable help from Abraham Lincoln in his fight against the French invasion, in fact, the United States never recognized Maximilian’s second empire.”

She goes on: “The crucial moment of the disavowal of the usurped Victoriano Huerta, in 1913. The respect of President Franklin Roosevelt for General Lazaro Cardenas. Mexico fought alongside the United States in World War Two, not only with the aviators of the Air Force Squadron 201, but also by sending to the neighboring country, workers that were called ‘braceros’, who contributed to the guarantee of production of food and raw materials.”

Sheinbaum also directly addressed the people of the United States, making clear that Mexico is committed to improving lives on both sides of the border.

“Today I want to take the opportunity, from the political center of Mexico, to tell the American people that we have no intention of harming them and that we are determined to collaborate with them in all areas, especially in light of their concern about the serious problem of synthetic drug use.

“For humanitarian reasons, Mexico will continue to collaborate to prevent fentanyl from reaching American youth and to support their families. Furthermore, as I have said, not only do we not want this drug to reach the young people in the United States, but we do not want it to reach any part of the world, nor to the Mexican youth.”

Following this, Sheinbaum explained that since October 2024, and January 2025, fentanyl found on the border decreased by 50%, and from January to February, by another 41%.

She also outlined her four-point plan of reducing fentanyl production. This being to address the root causes of poverty and impoverishment, expanding the National Guard, focusing on intelligence and investigation and coordination between the Security Cabinet and Attorney General’s Office.

Addressing Mexicans in the US

Sheinbaum also directly addressed Mexicans in the US and their role in the economy.

“There are nearly 38 million Mexicans living in the United States…of which two-thirds were born in the United States and the other third, born in Mexico, mostly have residency papers because they have been on the other side of the border for years.”

“…our countrymen and women contribute to the Mexican economy by supporting their families, 64 billion dollars in remittances in 2024.”

This comes out to about USD 1,684 per Mexican living in the United States.

“But it is important to say that 80% of what they earn contributes fundamentally to the United States Economy.”

Sheinbaum also points out that American companies that invest in Mexico yield more productive results, clearly hinting at the damage that tariffs would do to the United States economy.

“A recent study explains that American companies that invest in Mexico become more productive, which allows them to create 333 jobs in the United States for every 131 jobs they create in our country.”

Sheinbaum’s support clearly crossed borders, with supporters even coming out for her in New York. 

So what is Sheinbaum’s plan to shield Mexico from tariff threats?

Sheinbaum outlined a five-prong plan to ensure Mexico can remain strong and stable whether tariffs eventually arrive or not. The plan is centered around a focus on the domestic economy and public investment in infrastructure and social programs.

1. Strengthening the domestic market – increasing the minimum wage and wellbeing of the Mexican people.
2. Expanding self-sufficiency and sovereignty over food and energy. Sheinbaum said “what we consume in Mexico, is produced in Mexico.”
3. Increase of public investment to boost job creation. For example, upcoming public projects include construction of passenger trains, highways, water works, the building of one million homes and more.
4. Promoting national production with Sheinbaum’s “Plan Mexico” to grow the economy.
5. Continuation of Mexico’s hugely popular social programs, such as universal senior pension, support for people with disabilities, tree-growing programs for farmers, universal public school scholarships, women specific early pensions and more.

Mexican opposition calls on Trump to attack MORENA

The Mexican opposition currently has all-time low levels of support, with just 8% party preference for the PRI and 7% for the PAN, compared to 46% for MORENA.

As political commentator Freddy Oliviery wrote, next to a photo of a filled-to-the-brim Zócalo: “10% of Mexicans hate seeing this photos, they are the ones indoctrinated to the old regime, those who got used to crouching down for 90 years and staying home watching Televisa.”

“Today, Mexico has already woken up.”

Before AMLO became president in 2018, Mexico had 78 consecutive years of right-wing and centrist leaders.

The same day as the massive rally, right-wing, former ruling party PAN released a statement on X, alleging that MORENA worked with organized crime and called on Donald Trump to make sure he accuses the government of being involved with organized crime.

Ironically, the only proof the White House has produced so far of Mexico’s government having involvement with organized crime, is a tweet that linked to an Associated Press article, highlighting the charges and subsequent imprisonment of Genaro Garcia Luna, the former secretary of public security, who served under former President Felipe Calderon, as part of the PAN. Much to her amusement, Sheinbaum pointed this out in a previous mañanera.

International Women’s Day

It was a particularly politicized weekend for Mexico, with International Women’s Day marches also drawing huge crowds across the country, including 170,000 in Mexico City alone.

International Women’s Day is a hugely important day in Mexico, where women protest rather than celebrate, to fight for justice in a country where 10 women are killed in acts of femicide every day.

For Sheinbaum’s part, she has dedicated 2025 to be the year of the Indigenous woman in Mexico, and therefore March 8 was also focused on the Indigenous woman.

Furthermore, the president inaugurated a new room in the National Palace, in the center of the city where Sheinbaum and the government work and operate. The new room in the palace pays tribute to hundreds of Mexican women that helped shape the history of the country.

Sheinbaum wrote on twitter: “This March 8, International Women’s Day, we dedicate it to Indigenous women, to our origins. It is an ethical responsibility to rethink the past in order to transform the injustices of the present. Not one more femicide, not one more hit, not one more violent word or treatment, women have the right to a free and full time. Long live women!”

Tallis Boerne Marcus is an Australian journalist currently based in Mexico City.