Carlos Slim's foray into Washington DC, alongside Francisco Cervantes in a role almost akin to a personal secretary, due to Donald Trump's return to the White House, did not yield the expected results. Slim aimed to showcase his agenda and lobbying capacity between the Republican government and Claudia Sheinbaum, but not only did he fail to stand out, he was publicly criticized by the businessman closest to Trump.
In recent months, Slim has accumulated disastrous public appearances. From a poorly planned press conference last year to uncomfortable situations after Sheinbaum's victory, such as asking Cervantes for the CCE to present him with an award. His attempt in the United States faced obstacles from the outset, not only due to Musk's hostility.
The most difficult moment of the trip occurred when Elon Musk hinted on his social media platform X that Slim's fortune has a questionable origin. Despite wishing to be photographed with Trump, or at least with his inner circle, and being part of the galas organized by the new president, Slim only managed to participate in common events or unofficial galas.
During his stay, he was seen with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, producer Eduardo Verástegui, and the Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau. However, he could not witness Trump's inauguration at the Capitol, and messages from Washington were canceled. Slim planned to return to Mexico and offer a lecture on how to negotiate with Trump, similar to what he did in 2017.
Despite his absence, figures who do not look favorably upon him, such as Rupert Murdoch or Luis Videgaray, were present in the environments where Slim wished to be highlighted.
