In a five-page letter posted on X, López Obrador, who left office in 2024 but remains one of Mexico’s most influential political figures, said relations with Washington had deteriorated under Trump’s current administration and argued that the U.S. president had changed significantly since their earlier interactions.

“Speaking from what I personally experienced and can prove, the Trump of today is different from the one I dealt with,” López Obrador wrote, describing Trump during his first term as cooperative, pragmatic and open to dialogue.

He attributed what he called Trump’s transformation to “false friends and advisers, both internal and external,” whom he accused of leading the U.S. leader into policies detrimental to bilateral relations.

The comments represent one of López Obrador’s most direct interventions in public affairs since leaving office and amount to a strong endorsement of President Claudia Sheinbaum, his longtime political ally and successor. In the letter, he praised Sheinbaum as the “best president Mexico has had in our time.”

The remarks come amid growing strains between Mexico City and Washington after more than a year of often difficult but largely cooperative engagement. Sheinbaum has recently adopted a firmer tone toward the United States, emphasizing the need to defend Mexican sovereignty.

A major source of friction has been the U.S. Justice Department’s April indictment of 10 Mexican officials over alleged links to drug trafficking organizations. Mexican authorities have viewed the move as a sensitive issue in bilateral relations.

López Obrador accused U.S. officials of attempting to weaken Morena, the governing party he founded, under the banner of combating migration and narcotics-related crime.

Neither U.S. nor Mexican government officials immediately responded to requests for comment regarding López Obrador’s statements.

Mexico and the United States maintain one of the world’s largest economic relationships, with close cooperation on trade, migration and security issues, although political disputes have periodically strained ties between the two countries.

López Obrador ended his message with an appeal for improved relations, writing: “For the good of all, may the other Trump return.”

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi faces eight charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to Kata’ib Hezbollah, which Washington designates as a terrorist organization.

Speaking through an interpreter, Al-Saadi told the court, “I am not guilty and we are in a war situation,” while also referencing children allegedly killed in a strike in Iran earlier this year.

U.S. prosecutors allege Al-Saadi helped plan around 18 attacks targeting American interests in Europe and was involved in plotting attacks in the United States, including against a synagogue in New York.

Al-Saadi was taken into U.S. custody in Türkiye last month. The case comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Iran-backed groups across the Middle East and beyond.