Mexico's elections weren't about Trump, but it could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship

While Trump might think the hemisphere revolves around him, the Mexican people didn't get that memo. The issues in this election were security, jobs, economic justice and an end to corruption -- in other words, domestic concerns having nothing to do with the United States or its president.

Be prepared to hear in the days ahead that AMLO is nothing like Trump. Supporters of the Mexican president-elect will insist that he wants to uplift the destitute and the downtrodden, not insult and mistreat them.

Still, in terms of politics and personality, AMLO could be Trump's brother from a Mexican mother. Both ran as political outsiders against the establishments in their respective countries. Both benefited from the fact that people were angry at the major parties and fed up with politics as usual. Both know how to get attention and manipulate the media. Both promise jobs and convince followers that the elites are out to get them. Both rode nationalist waves to power and tapped into the discontent of voters who felt overlooked by the powerful. Both are skeptical of trade deals and are convinced their countries got the short end. Both deflect criticism by making scapegoats out of neighboring countries. And both generate hope in some quarters but fear in others.

In fact, I predict Trump and Lopez Obrador will get along just fine. They understand each other, even if they see the world differently. Who knows? They might even wind up amigos.

The day after the Mexican election, the two men spoke for about half an hour. Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter that "the tone was respectful," while Trump predicted to reporters that "the relationship will be a very good one."

Look at the long game. Mexico and the United States have been squabbling since the mid-19th century, when U.S. troops marched to Mexico City fueled by Manifest Destiny. Yet both countries need each other; Mexico is the United States' No. 3 trading partner, and it is Mexican law enforcement officials who gather and share the intelligence that keeps Americans safe from terrorist attacks along the U.S.-Mexico border.

So, in spite of the mischief sometimes ginned up by politicians on both sides of the border, divorce is not an option, and the marriage remains strong.

Let's hope the two amigos keep it that way.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, "Navarrette Nation," is available through every podcast app.