With economic issues at the center of a brief meeting, President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum met for the first time, following the World Cup draw.

Although separate meetings had been planned, the meeting was trilateral, with the attendance of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Carney.

“It’s not that we reached a particular agreement, but it was a meeting of almost an hour, and I am very positive about the relationship between the United States and Mexico, and also with Canada,” Sheinbaum said at a meeting with representatives of Mexican immigrants at the Mexican Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.

Sheinbaum acknowledged that addressing trade agreements has been a challenge, but she is confident that there will be positive decisions for the region, since the USMCA will have to be evaluated in 2026.

“The conditions will have to be right over the course of next year for trade issues, but I am very positive that everything will turn out well, so that helps us a lot,” she added, according to an audio recording shared with this newspaper.

Earlier, on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center for the FIFA draw, President Trump spoke positively about the Mexican president.

“She is a fantastic woman,” the U.S. president told the media.

The White House was brief about the meeting between the three leaders.

“The President met with the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada and is now discussing improvements to the Kennedy Center with Ambassador [Richard] Grenell,” a Trump Administration spokesperson shared via email.

Carney has already met with President Trump, with whom he has had disagreements over trade, but the meeting with Sheinbaum attracted the attention of the U.S. media, following 14 phone conversations between the two on security, trade, and immigration.

However, immigration issues were not a priority at this meeting, where trade took center stage, due to potential agreements in the works.

“I have spoken with President Trump 14 times and this is the first time I have seen him in person, and I always speak well of Mexican women and men,” Sheinbaum stated. “Mexicans are hard workers […] what we want is fair treatment so that Mexicans can thrive in the United States. So I hope that little by little things will be accepted.”

Trump and Sheinbaum were scheduled to meet in June on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, but that meeting was canceled as Trump returned to the U.S. amid tensions between Israel and Iran.

In Canada, Sheinbaum met with Carney, who has sought a trade alliance with Mexico to counter Trump's tariff onslaught.

Prior to the private meeting between the three North American leaders, they were seen smiling at the World Cup draw, with Trump and Carney even joking with Sheinbaum, moments captured in photos and videos.

The scene is far removed from political differences, due to President Trump's prioritized agenda of tariffs, security, and immigration, but Sheinbaum has fared well in the bilateral relationship, with a a “cool-headed” position, as she herself defines her strategy.

The meeting with Mexican migrants

President Sheinbaum acknowledged to Mexican migrants that their situation has not been easy in the U.S., referring to President Trump's immigration policies.

“I know it hasn't been easy for you lately,” she said. “What we have sought is to improve the consulates. Please let us know everything that is still wrong, what simply isn't working well. Our interest is that the consulates not only help Mexicans […] but also be safe havens for you.”