Antonio López de Santa Anna

An AI generated depiction of Antonio López de Santa Anna.

Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican soldier, politician, and caudillo[3] who served as the 8th president of Mexico on multiple occasions between 1833 and 1855. He also served as vice president of Mexico from 1837 to 1839.

He once said, “A man who is born elsewhere, but who dies in Mexico, is truly a Mexican.”

If Antonio López de Santa Anna were alive today, he might say something like:

"History remembers victors and villains, but seldom the truth. Power is never permanent—only the ability to seize it again."

This reflects his lifelong habit of rising and falling from power, his self-perception as a misunderstood leader, and his unwavering ambition despite repeated defeats. He would likely see modern politics as another battlefield.