Donald Trump just did what Trump does best—used leverage, made a deal, and left his critics scrambling to figure out how to spin it into a negative. On Thursday, the former—and soon-to-be—President announced that he’s pausing the implementation of tariffs on Mexico after a productive conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum. The move comes just days after his new round of tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China officially kicked in, proving once again that Trump understands something the D.C. establishment never could: how to negotiate from a position of strength.
Trump took to Truth Social to break the news, explaining that Mexico will be exempt from tariffs under the USMCA Agreement—at least until April 2nd. He called the decision an “accommodation” and a sign of “respect” for President Sheinbaum, with whom he says he’s built a solid working relationship. More importantly, he emphasized that both countries are making progress on key issues, including the border crisis and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
Now, let’s pause for a second and appreciate how this would have gone under Biden. There would have been a carefully staged press conference where officials nervously read from pre-approved note cards while avoiding eye contact with the media. The White House would’ve framed the situation as a delicate diplomatic process requiring endless summits, advisory panels, and taxpayer-funded studies before ultimately caving to Mexico’s demands without getting anything in return. In other words, the usual weak-kneed, bureaucratic nonsense.
But Trump? Trump slaps tariffs on Mexico, gets Sheinbaum on the phone, and walks away with an agreement that actually benefits both sides while maintaining America’s leverage. That’s how a leader operates. He’s not afraid to apply pressure, and he’s not afraid to make temporary concessions when it serves a larger strategic goal.
Sheinbaum, for her part, responded by acknowledging the “excellent and respectful” conversation and confirmed that Mexico will continue working with the U.S. on key issues like border security and drug trafficking. That’s a far cry from the usual grandstanding we saw from Mexican officials under Biden, where they repeatedly ignored demands to crack down on illegal immigration while happily cashing in on U.S. trade agreements. Funny how a real leader in the White House changes the dynamic.
“Many thanks to President Donald Trump. We had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties. We will continue to work together, particularly on migration and security issues, which include reducing the illegal crossing of fentanyl into the United States, as well as weapons into Mexico. As mentioned by President Trump, Mexico will not be required to pay tariffs on all those products within the USMCA. This agreement is until April 2, when the United States will announce reciprocal tariffs for all countries,” Sheinbaum posted. (Translated from Spanish)
Muchas gracias al presidente Donald Trump. Tuvimos una excelente y respetuosa llamada en la que coincidimos en que nuestro trabajo y colaboración han dado resultados sin precedentes, en el marco de respeto a nuestras soberanías. Continuaremos trabajando juntos, particularmente en… pic.twitter.com/JzD9jkm8tz
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) March 6, 2025
Of course, Trump’s critics will try to spin this as some kind of backpedal, pretending that he’s suddenly gone soft on tariffs. But let’s be clear—this is a strategic pause, not a surrender. The tariffs remain in effect for China and Canada, and come April 2nd, the U.S. will be implementing reciprocal tariffs on all countries. That means any nation still trying to game the system will have to rethink their strategy, or they’ll pay the price. And you can bet Mexico understands that.
This is yet another example of why Trump’s approach works. He doesn’t waste time on pointless meetings or empty promises. He applies pressure, gets results, and keeps America first. Meanwhile, Biden’s former team is probably still sitting in a conference room somewhere, trying to figure out how to pronounce “USMCA.”
As 2024 heats up, moments like these are reminders of what real leadership looks like. Trump doesn’t just talk tough—he delivers. And come November, Americans will have the chance to bring that winning strategy back to the White House where it belongs.
