A viral TikTok video has sparked intense debate about gentrification in Puerto Vallarta, as user @barbarairicel captured footage of an American family on the beach while posing the provocative question: “Hey, Trump! How do you explain gentrification?”
The March 2025 video has garnered thousands of views and comments expressing concern about Puerto Vallarta’s economic and social transformation due to the influx of foreign residents, primarily from the United States and Canada.
Critics in the comments section expressed frustration with statements like “Vallarta is not even enjoyable because of so many gringos” and calls for stricter visa requirements or even deportation of foreign residents.
Gentrification—the transformation of an area due to the arrival of wealthier residents—has affected several Mexican tourist destinations including San Miguel de Allende and Cancun. The phenomenon typically results in displaced local residents, increased housing costs, and cultural changes such as English-only menus and tourist-exclusive events.
Studies from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) suggest the process benefits real estate and tourism sectors while raising the overall cost of living for locals.
However, defenders of foreign presence argue that tourism remains vital to Puerto Vallarta’s economy. Some commenters suggested that negative reactions reflect xenophobia and fail to acknowledge the economic benefits foreign visitors and residents bring to the region.