Sheinbaum defends ‘fourth transformation’ as Sinaloa scandal strains her party’s movement: Monday’s mañanera recapped

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds

• 🏛️ Sinaloa leadership transition: Sheinbaum acknowledged that Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya has taken leave amid U.S. drug trafficking accusations, with interim governor Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde appointed by the state Congress. She directed federal security officials, including Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, to meet with Bonilla to coordinate on security.

• 🛡️ 4T under attack: Sheinbaum pushed back against what she called a media and right-wing “campaign” linking her government to drug trafficking, defending the “fourth transformation” (4T) movement’s anti-corruption record and citing welfare expansion, poverty reduction and cartel extraditions as evidence of clean governance.

• 👩🏽 Misogyny charge: Sheinbaum denied going to Palenque to seek AMLO’s counsel on the Rocha situation — she was there to inspect a rail project and open an ecological park — but said the insinuation that she needed his guidance carried “many characteristics of misogyny,” as it implies she can’t make major decisions independently.

Why today’s mañanera matters

U.S. prosecutors’ drug trafficking accusations against Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, the mayor of Culiacán, a Morena party senator and seven other Sinaloa-based officials continue to be the dominant topic in Mexico’s national conversation. Rocha has temporarily stepped down as governor as the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) assesses a U.S. request for the provisional arrest of the 10 suspects for extradition purposes, and conducts its own investigation into the U.S. allegations.

President Sheinbaum last week endorsed the determination from the FGR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the U.S. Justice Department hasn’t provided sufficient “proof” to establish the probable guilt of Rocha and the nine other defendants.

US indictment of Sinaloan governor lacks proof, Sheinbaum says: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

On Monday morning, she acknowledged Rocha’s decision to take leave, and — mindful that the “fourth transformation” political movement she leads could be tainted (or is being tainted) by the allegations against him — defended her government against what she characterized as a smear campaign.

Also of note at today’s mañanera was Sheinbaum’s response to claims that she went to the southern state of Chiapas to seek advice on the situation involving Rocha from former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. AMLO, the president’s erstwhile political mentor, lives on a ranch in Palenque, a town in Chiapas best known for the Palenque archeological site.

Sheinbaum acknowledges that Rocha has taken leave as governor of Sinaloa 

Sheinbaum noted that Rocha requested leave as governor of Sinaloa and an interim governor, Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde, was appointed by the state Congress on Saturday.

She said that she instructed federal security officials, including Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, to meet with Bonilla to explain to her “the process of coordination” on security issues between the federal government and the government of Sinaloa. That meeting is set to take place on Monday.

“It’s very important that, in the face of this government change that occurred in Sinaloa, the federal security cabinet is present to strengthen the activities of coordination,” Sheinbaum said.

She also said that Rocha asked for federal protection while on leave as governor and his request was granted.

Sheinbaum defends federal government amid ‘campaign’ against it

Sheinbaum said that since the U.S. Department of Justice requested the provisional arrest for extradition purposes of Rocha and the other nine defendants, there has been a “campaign” in the media and on social media against the federal government and the “fourth transformation” (4T) movement it represents.

The campaign, she said, is “mainly promoted” by “some media outlets who are always going to speak ill of us” and “the Mexican right wing.”

Sheinbaum summarized the attack on her administration as follows: “The government of Mexico has links to drug trafficking.”

After reiterating the assertion that the federal government doesn’t protect anyone who has committed a crime, the president launched into an impassioned defense of the 4T movement that she leads, and which is supported by Morena, the party founded by AMLO.

“Our movement came to power with a very clear order — to put an end to the regime of corruption and privileges,” said Sheinbaum, who noted that the FGR is assessing the United States’ request for Rocha’s arrest.

She went on to say that “if we hadn’t put an end to the corruption of the past, we wouldn’t have the welfare programs” that the government currently offers.

🗣️ “Nosotros no protegemos a nadie”

Claudia Sheinbaum aclaró que llegó al poder con la consigna de acabar con la corrupción y los privilegios, al ser cuestionada sobre el caso de Chihuahua y los funcionarios acusados por EU pic.twitter.com/RcDyEPhMSb

— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) May 4, 2026

Sheinbaum asserted that it would be impossible for the government to spend 1 trillion pesos (US $57 billion) annually on welfare schemes if the corruption of days gone by — i.e., the period before AMLO took office in 2018 — still existed.

She also attributed the increase in tax collection in Mexico — “without increasing taxes” — to the “honesty” of her government and that led by López Obrador.

“How can it be explained that there are welfare programs that couldn’t be provided before? Because there is honesty in the management of resources,” Sheinbaum said.

“If there was corruption, how can it be explained that in the period of President López Obrador, 13.5 million people exited poverty? If there was corruption, how can it be explained that for the first time ever there are more people in the middle class than in poverty? If there was corruption, how can it be explained that we can travel around the country and the people greet us and hug us?” she asked.

“… How can it be explained that the National Security Council sent 94 [cartel] bosses detained in Mexico … from all criminal groups to the United States?” Sheinbaum continued.

“… If we weren’t putting an end to corruption, how can it be explained that a Morena mayor was arrested in Jalisco, in Tequila?… How can all this, everything that we have done from 2019 until now in the governments of transformation, be explained if there was corruption?” she asked.

Sheinbaum denounces misogyny in claims she went to Palenque to seek advice from AMLO 

Toward the end of her press conference, Sheinbaum addressed claims that she went to Palenque, Chiapas, over the weekend to seek advice on the situation involving Rocha from López Obrador.

#Mañanera |”No fui a pedir línea”: Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein) responde a críticas tras su gira en Palenque🇲🇽🗣️

La presidenta calificó los señalamientos como misóginos, defendiendo su capacidad para tomar decisiones sobre el futuro de México. pic.twitter.com/FFMdKUtJHW

— Tribuna Sonora (@TribunaSonora) May 4, 2026

The president — who went to Palenque to inspect a rail project and inaugurate an ecological park — said she didn’t meet with AMLO, but stressed that “there wouldn’t be anything wrong” with doing so.

Sheinbaum said that assertions that she had gone to Palenque to consult AMLO have “many characteristics of misogyny.”

The insinuation, she said, is that she can’t take “decisions on the future of the country” on her own.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)