On Tuesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum ignited a new chapter in the diplomatic controversy with the United States by addressing the mysterious figure whom former Ambassador Ken Salazar dubbed “The Whisperer” in his upcoming memoir. Although she stopped short of confirming a specific name, the president remarked: “Let everyone draw their own conclusions… it is highly unlikely to be just anyone; we are all thinking of the same person.”
The revelation sparked a wave of speculation on social media and in political columns regarding the true identity of “The Whisperer.” One name gaining significant traction is Ricardo Salinas Pliego—owner of Grupo Salinas and TV Azteca—whose relationship with the Morena administration has become increasingly strained in recent months.
The businessman is embroiled in a massive, long-standing tax dispute with the SAT (Mexico’s tax authority); this resulted in an agreement to settle over 32 billion pesos in staggered payments through 2027, after the Supreme Court unanimously rejected all 102 of his legal challenges against tax liabilities owed by Elektra and TV Azteca. Furthermore, as recently as July 6, a federal judge formally accepted TV Azteca’s petition for insolvency proceedings (*concurso mercantil*), initiating a conciliation phase with its creditors.
Other names circulating in connection with the figure include Alfonso Romo—the former Chief of the Office of the Presidency, who was also mentioned in journalist Anabel Hernández’s podcast *Narcosistema*—and other members of the Business Advisory Council that supported AMLO during his six-year term, such as Televisa executive Bernardo Gómez. As for Carlos Slim, although he has been mentioned in some columns, many analysts consider him an unlikely candidate, given his history of avoiding direct involvement in Mexican politics.
