Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was groped during a public meet-and-greet in Mexico City on Tuesday, an incident caught on video that has raised questions about both public safety and respect for personal boundaries in a country already grappling with widespread harassment and violence against women.
The attack occurred as Sheinbaum walked toward an event near the presidential palace, greeting supporters and posing for photos. Video footage circulating on social media shows a man reaching out to grab the president’s chest and attempting to kiss her neck before security officers intervened. Sheinbaum, visibly startled but composed, continued greeting the crowd and even posed for a photo with the assailant before he was led away by security.
During her daily press briefing on Wednesday, Sheinbaum confirmed she would file a formal complaint against the man, who she said appeared to be intoxicated. “This is something that shouldn’t happen — and I don’t say this as a president, but as a woman,” she told reporters. “Our personal space must not be violated by anyone. If this happens to the president, what would happen to the rest of women and young women in our country?”
The president’s remarks underscored a troubling reality for Mexico, where sexual harassment and assault are endemic. According to United Nations Women, roughly 70 percent of Mexican women aged 15 and older have experienced some form of sexual harassment, a figure that has drawn international concern.
Mexico’s Minister of Women, Citlalli Hernández Mora, condemned the incident on the social platform X, writing, “We repudiate the act that our president [Claudia Sheinbaum] experienced today.” Hernández went on to criticize social norms that have long minimized or excused such behavior, calling for a cultural shift that treats violations of women’s boundaries with the seriousness they deserve.
Authorities confirmed that the man was arrested following the incident. Sheinbaum said she had asked the women’s ministry to review the case and determine whether criminal charges should move forward.
For Sheinbaum, the attack hits at a deeply personal and political level. A longtime progressive figure who has championed gender equality, she created the Ministry of Women after taking office to address gender-based violence and strengthen protections for victims.
“This cannot be normalized,” Sheinbaum said. “We all have the right to walk freely without being touched, without being harassed.”
The assault has stirred debate over the broader breakdown of civility and law enforcement in Mexico. While Sheinbaum’s supporters praised her poise, critics noted that the episode — taking place just steps from the presidential palace — highlights a country struggling to maintain order even in its most secure spaces.
As Mexico’s first female president, Sheinbaum now faces an even greater test: transforming an outpouring of outrage into tangible reform in a nation where harassment remains both pervasive and rarely punished.
[READ MORE: Polling Sites in New Jersey Temporarily Closed After Election Day Threats]
About Post Author
