Mexico City — A shocking incident involving Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum during a public gathering has raised serious questions about security and gender sensitivity in the country.
On Tuesday, while Sheinbaum was speaking with residents in the historic downtown of Mexico City, a man walked up to her, placed his hand on her shoulder, and appeared to kiss her neck. In the video circulating online, Sheinbaum can be seen immediately turning around, removing his hand, and calmly stepping back while maintaining her composure.
Moments later, security personnel arrived and detained the man. Mexican media reported that he was under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.
President’s Response and Public Reaction
Speaking to reporters afterward, President Sheinbaum said the experience was not just personal but reflected what countless women in Mexico go through every day. “This is not just something that happened to me,” she said. “Every woman in Mexico has faced similar situations at some point. If I, as president, do not file a complaint, what message does that send to other women seeking justice?”
Sheinbaum confirmed that formal legal action would be taken against the man. The incident sparked an immediate reaction from women’s rights advocates and the public. Journalist Catalina Ruiz-Navarro wrote, “When even the president of the country can be touched by a man who believes he has the right to do so, it shows how deeply rooted patriarchy still is in our society.”
The event also prompted criticism of the government’s security measures. Just days earlier, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán state, was shot and killed — raising concerns about the apparent weakness in protecting top officials.
“We Cannot Distance Ourselves from the People”
Despite growing criticism, President Sheinbaum said she would not change her long-standing approach of staying close to ordinary citizens. “We cannot distance ourselves from the people,” she said. “Doing so would mean denying our political identity and the values we represent.”
The incident has reignited a national conversation about women’s safety, gender equality, and the state of public security in Mexico.
