Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum groped on street; incident sparks national conversation on women’s safety

A moment meant to be a public celebration turned traumatic when President Claudia Sheinbaum was groped during a street appearance near the National Palace in Mexico City.

The incident, captured on a mobile phone, shows the president speaking to supporters on Tuesday when a man suddenly approached from behind and attempted to kiss her on the neck while placing his hands on her body.

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Sheinbaum quickly moved away, visibly shaken, as a member of her team stepped in. The man was later arrested, but the attack has sent shockwaves across Mexico raising urgent questions about women’s safety and political security in the country. At a news conference on Wednesday, President Sheinbaum explained why she has decided to press charges. “If I don’t file a complaint, what happens to other Mexican women? If something like this can happen to the president, what will happen to all the women in our country?” she said. Sheinbaum added that she had experienced harassment before, long before she became president during her student years.

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She stressed that the decision to pursue legal action was not just personal but a statement against a larger problem. “This is something that many women in our country experience,” she said. She added that the man who attacked her had allegedly harassed other women in the crowd, making it even more urgent to act. “There should be a line,” she said. Footage of the incident shows Sheinbaum’s quick reflexes as she removed the man’s hands before staff members intervened. Notably, her security detail did not appear to be immediately present, a fact that has drawn criticism and raised questions about the protection measures for public officials.

Presenté una denuncia por el episodio de acoso que viví ayer en la Ciudad de México. Debe quedar claro que, más allá de ser presidenta, esto es algo que viven muchas mujeres en el país y en el mundo; nadie puede vulnerar nuestro cuerpo y espacio personal.

Revisaremos la… pic.x.com/jcs6FweI6q

— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) November 5, 2025

Despite this, Sheinbaum dismissed suggestions that she would increase security or change her approach to interacting with the public.

In a social media post, Sheinbaum described the attack as a reflection of what women face in Mexico and around the world. “Many women experience harassment daily, and it’s time we stop pretending it is acceptable,” she wrote.

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The incident comes amid growing concern over violence against women in Mexico. According to the United Nations, an average of 10 women are murdered every day in the country. Approximately 70 percent of Mexican women aged 15 and over experience at least one incident of sexual harassment in their lives. Rights groups have repeatedly warned of a femicide crisis emphasising that sexual harassment and gender-based violence remain widespread and underreported.

Sheinbaum’s remarks also highlight a complex legal landscape. Mexico’s 32 states and Mexico City, which is a federal entity, each have their own criminal codes. And sexual harassment is not a crime in every state. The president called for reforms insisting that sexual harassment should have a recognition as a criminal offence nationwide. She also announced plans for a public awareness campaign to fight harassment and support victims.