Sheinbaum Makes History at Mexico’s Independence Day
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has become the first woman in the country’s history to lead Independence Day celebrations, marking a milestone moment 215 years after the struggle that freed Mexico from Spanish rule.
From the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, Sheinbaum rang the historic bell on Monday night, re-enacting the “grito” the cry of independence before tens of thousands of flag-waving citizens who responded with shouts of “Viva México!”
In her address during Tuesday’s military parade, Sheinbaum declared that Mexico would not bow to external control, stressing that “no foreign power makes decisions for us.” Though she did not mention any country by name, her comments followed increasing pressure from the United States over drug cartels and border security.
Read also: Canada denies nearly 1,600 Nigerian asylum claims in 2025
The US has in recent years floated the idea of deploying troops against cartels, some of which it has labeled “terrorist” groups. But Sheinbaum, who took office in October, has rejected the proposal, insisting that Mexico’s actions against organised crime serve its own interests.
Her government has stepped up extraditions of cartel leaders and pointed to lower fentanyl seizures at the US border as evidence of progress. Yet Sheinbaum made clear that these measures are not the result of outside pressure but a continuation of Mexico’s sovereignty.
The Independence Day events drew huge crowds to the capital’s Zócalo square, where music, parades, and air displays filled the atmosphere in a show of national pride. For many Mexicans, the sight of Sheinbaum leading the rituals, a role held only by men for more than a symbolised both tradition and change.
