Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she had lodged a criminal complaint against a man who groped and attempted to kiss her while she interacted with the public. The incident, captured in a viral video, was described by Sheinbaum during her routine morning press briefing as a criminal act, emphasizing that she, like many Mexican women, has encountered similar situations in the past.
Reflecting on the incident, Sheinbaum expressed concerns about the safety of women in Mexico, stating, “If this happens to the president, what will happen to all the young women in our country.” She noted that the man involved appeared to be heavily intoxicated.
The video circulated rapidly online before some accounts removed it, highlighting the prevalent challenges women face in Mexico due to machismo culture and gender-based violence. Questions have also been raised regarding Sheinbaum’s security arrangements. Similar to her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum maintains minimal security and actively engages with the public, including mingling with crowds.
Despite the unsettling encounter, Sheinbaum affirmed her intention to uphold her current approach, citing the importance of maintaining close connections with the people. The incident occurred as Sheinbaum was walking from Mexico’s National Palace to the Ministry of Education. The footage shows a middle-aged man putting his arm around Sheinbaum, touching her inappropriately, and attempting to kiss her before being intercepted by a member of her team. At that moment, her security detail was not visibly present.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed that the man was detained following the incident. Sheinbaum also criticized the newspaper Reforma for publishing images of the incident, labeling it as a form of re-victimization and unethical behavior.
The Women’s Ministry, established under Sheinbaum’s leadership, issued a statement encouraging women to report violence against them while urging media outlets to refrain from sharing content that compromises women’s integrity. Nonetheless, feminist activists have previously criticized Sheinbaum for inadequate efforts in addressing violence against women, particularly in terms of investigating and prosecuting femicides.
In 2024, Mexico reported 821 femicides, with 501 recorded up to September of the current year. Many advocates believe these figures underestimate the true extent of the issue. Ana Yeli Perez from the National Citizen Observatory on Femicide highlighted that the assault on Sheinbaum has once again brought the issue of gender-based violence to the forefront.
The incident coincided with Sheinbaum’s meeting with the widow of a mayor from Michoacán state who was publicly assassinated. Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, was fatally shot during a public event, sparking national outrage and protests. Manzo’s widow, Grecia Quiroz, has agreed to succeed him as mayor. Sheinbaum’s security detail did not appear to be nearby during the incident.
UPDATE: The man has been arrested for the assault. Sheinbaum has criticized the publication of images from the incident by a Mexican newspaper, calling it “re-victimization.” The Women’s Ministry, part of Sheinbaum’s administration, has urged women to report violence against them and asked media not to share content that compromises women’s integrity.
