President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico on Friday said the appearance of the flag of Mexico at protests that had turned violent in the United States was a “provocation” that threatened to tarnish her country’s reputation.
The Mexican flag has become a symbol of defiance in demonstrations against immigration raids while also a flashpoint among supporters of those policies. Ms. Sheinbaum has tried to balance her response to the protests by defending Mexican nationals while condemning violence, and this week denied an accusation by a top Trump official that she had encouraged violence.
Ms. Sheinbaum on Friday broadly criticized images of disturbances on U.S. streets that featured the Mexican flag, without offering who she believed was responsible for flying her country’s banner. The images of protesters waving the flag, she said, “have all the appearance of being a provocation and of wanting to generate a certain image of Mexico.” Ms. Sheinbaum specifically referred to a widely circulated picture of a shirtless man waving Mexico’s green, white and red flag while atop a vandalized car in Los Angeles.
“That does not mean that we are not outraged by the way Mexicans and other nationalities are being detained in the United States. We are against these raids,” she added. “But we must be very clear that these violent actions are a provocation. From whom? We do not know.”
Ms. Sheinbaum’s remarks underscored how she is trying to balance Mexico’s relations with the United States as the countries negotiate tariffs and the Trump administration’s pushing of Mexico to do more against drug cartels.
She has also underscored the detention of at least 61 Mexican nationals in Los Angeles, including some who have already been deported.
In many cases, Ms. Sheinbaum said, the Mexican government believes that the detainees were denied due process and consulate officials have provided legal council.
Earlier this week, Ms. Sheinbaum faced accusations from Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, of encouraging demonstrations in Los Angeles. On Tuesday, Ms. Noem told reporters: “Claudia Sheinbaum came out and encouraged more protests in L.A. and I condemn her for that.”
“People are allowed to peacefully protest,” Ms. Noem added. “But the violence that we’re seeing is not acceptable, and it’s not going to happen in America.”
Ms. Sheinbaum said on social media that the accusation was “absolutely false.” She noted that she had repeatedly condemned violent demonstrations, a point she repeated on Friday.
“When you are against something, you have every right to demonstrate peacefully,” she said, and called on her fellow Mexicans to not join violent demonstrations. “Even more so if you are in the United States: you have to do it peacefully.”
Emiliano Rodríguez Mega is a reporter and researcher for The Times based in Mexico City, covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
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