A meeting with Sheinbaum, dinner with the far right, and a photo with Our Lady of Guadalupe: Trump’s new ambassador arrives in Mexico

Ronald Johnson rises from his chair and addresses his dinner companions. He’s surrounded by mariachis and says what almost any newcomer would say: “Thank you, Mexico!” Applause and cheers erupt, and the new U.S. ambassador places a hand on the shoulder of his host, Eduardo Verástegui, the most famous face of Mexico’s far right: “My brother here,” he calls out. “May God bless you all,” he says before the diners applaud again and thank him, and the songs resume. Donald Trump’s hawk has arrived in Mexico.

This CIA veteran, former Green Beret, and friend of Nayib Bukele of El Salvador formally presented his credentials on Monday before President Claudia Sheinbaum, who also welcomed the new ambassadors from Colombia (Carlos Fernando García Manosalva), Algeria (Messaoud Mehila), the Dominican Republic (Juan Bolívar Díaz), and Slovakia (Milan Cigán) at the National Palace. But out of all the newly appointed ambassadors, all eyes were on Johnson.

The diplomat’s first days in Mexico have been intense. Almost upon landing, he and his wife, Alina, visited the Basilica of Guadalupe, north of Mexico City. “Upon arriving in Mexico, as people of faith, my wife Alina and I visited Our Lady of Guadalupe to ask for wisdom and strength in this responsibility for the benefit of both nations,” the diplomat posted on the embassy’s X account. It was after 10 p.m. and the couple, wearing American flags on their lapels, were posting their photos at the revered shrine. The next day Johnson met with Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente in the morning and had dinner with Verástegui in the afternoon, in a scene shared by the far-right leader on his social media.

“Dear people of Mexico, many greetings,” the new ambassador officially introduced himself, striking a very different note from his predecessor, Ken Salazar. “Our relationship with you, with Mexico, is of great importance; there is no other in the world that has a greater impact. We are more than partners; we are neighbors and friends,” the diplomat said in a video in which he stated that he was in the country to work with President Sheinbaum on “issues of interest such as security, the border, and migration.”

Johnson’s appointment, with no experience in economic, trade, or financial affairs, fits into the tough-on-crime attitude that Trump wants for Mexico. The new ambassador is part of the Republican cadre that hasn’t ruled out military action against the cartels in the country. He acknowledged as much before the U.S. Congress in March, when he was ratified, and where he went so far as to say that although cooperation with the Mexican government must first be sought, “all cards are on the table.” Sheinbaum contradicted him at that point: “We don’t agree: that’s not on the table, not on the chair, not on the floor, not anywhere.”

This Monday, after the symbolic ceremony, the diplomat’s words were different: “I thank President Claudia Sheinbaum for the conversation and her warmth during the presentation of credentials.” He also later recalled “the many calls” between her and Trump that “reflect the importance” of the relationship and shared priorities. In the Republican’s four months at the helm of the White House, tensions and crises between the two countries have ranged from fentanyl and migration to tomatoes, water, and screwworms.

Johnson’s military background precedes him. He began in the army as a secondment officer in Panama and over the years specialized in intelligence and covert operations. From there, he made the leap to the CIA, where he worked for decades in connection with various wars: the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and back to Latin America as an advisor to the Central Intelligence Agency’s Southern Command.

This isn’t the first time Johnson has played the role of Trump’s strongman abroad. During the Republican’s first term (2016-2020), he served as ambassador to El Salvador. The deployment of the former military officer was symbolic of the shift in strategy the magnate was pursuing for the Central American country: the White House wanted a tougher line against the — at that time — all-powerful gangs and greater immigration control in one of the nations with historically the largest number of migrants to the United States, in addition to closer monitoring of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who was threatening trade deals with China.

The selection of a military envoy for the post was almost unprecedented, and during his tenure, Johnson developed an unorthodox relationship with Bukele, criticized for his authoritarian tendencies and the systematic human rights violations of his administration. Johnson allowed himself to be photographed eating lobster or strolling through a park with his “friend,” as he described the Salvadoran leader. El Salvador followed Trump’s lead, and in return, Washington avoided looking too deeply into the dirty laundry of its new ally in Central America.

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