Time magazine published its influential annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world on April 16, 2025, and among them is Mexico’s current president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. The profile was written by journalist Jorge Ramos, a key figure in U.S. Latino journalism, who highlights both Sheinbaum’s historic achievements and the enormous challenges she faces.
This inclusion is especially significant for the Hispanic community in the U.S., as Sheinbaum is not only the first woman president in Mexico’s history, but has also assumed office at a time of high bilateral tension between Mexico and the United States, where millions of Latinos closely follow every step of both governments. It is also significant that the profile was written by Jorge Ramos, given that the journalist was a staunch critic of the government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Claudia’s predecessor and mentor.
What did Jorge Ramos say about Sheinbaum in Time?
Jorge Ramos, known for his critical and direct approach, especially towards power figures in Latin America and the United States, wrote that Claudia Sheinbaum, 62, is a politician who also defines herself as a climate scientist.
This dual profile -academic and political- has marked her way of governing with a style that she herself defines as “serene”.
In his article, Ramos acknowledges that the Mexican president “made history” by being the first woman elected to the presidency after winning the elections in June 2024.
A fact that, according to the journalist, has generated a cultural movement that demands the use of the term “president” with an “a”, as a sign of recognition of the advance of gender equality in a country historically marked by political machismo.
Urgent challenges: violence, border and Trump
Despite the recognition, Jorge Ramos does not avoid pointing out the enormous challenges that Claudia Sheinbaum faces less than a year before starting her term. Among them, he highlights two particularly delicate ones:
Drug-related violence, which continues to claim thousands of lives each year in Mexico.
Tensions with the U.S. government, once again headed by Donald Trump, who has reimposed tariffs on Mexico with the argument of stemming the flow of drugs and migrants at the southern border.
Claudia Sheinbaum confronts the expansionist instincts of US President Donald Trump
Jorge Ramos
However, he adds that the Mexican president has managed to maintain the respect of the U.S. president thanks to her firm leadership, without unnecessary confrontation, and with a rational posture in the face of international pressure.
Still, the journalist regrets that Sheinbaum has not made a clear break with the security strategy implemented by her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), which, according to many critics, failed to contain organized crime violence.
Why is this relevant to U.S. Hispanics?
For Latinos residing in the United States – especially the more than 36 million Mexicans or people of Mexican origin – Sheinbaum’s decisions and her relationship with Trump have a direct impact.
Border policy, trade agreements, immigration policies and security collaboration between the two countries are issues that cross the daily lives of millions of binational families.
The Time profile, signed by Jorge Ramos, also serves as a reflection of the emerging role of women in Latin American politics, and as a reminder that, even in challenging contexts, leadership with a scientific and calm approach can also make a difference.
Claudia Sheinbaum enters Time’s list not only as the first woman to lead Mexico, but as a figure who represents a new kind of power: informed, calm and focused on results.
But the pressure is enormous and the eyes of millions -in Mexico and abroad- follow his government’s every step.
For more news, visit QuéOnnda.com.
