MEXICO: A man has been taken into custody after allegedly groping and attempting to kiss President Claudia Sheinbaum while she was greeting supporters in the capital.
The incident took place on Tuesday as Sheinbaum was making her way to an event near the presidential palace, engaging with the public through handshakes and selfies, as captured in social media videos.
According to reports, the man approached Sheinbaum, put his arm around her shoulders, and touched her hip and chest inappropriately while trying to kiss her on the neck. A member of her security detail intervened, removing the man, who appeared to be intoxicated or under the influence of substances. Despite the unsettling behavior, Sheinbaum responded with politeness, agreeing to pose for a photo with him before gently patting him on the back.
Authorities confirmed that the individual was subsequently detained. The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Citlali Hernandez an agency established by Sheinbaum—issued a statement condemning the incident.
“We denounce the act that our president endured today,” Hernandez wrote on X (formerly Twitter), also condemning macho attitudes that perpetuate normalization of unwelcome invasions of women’s personal space and bodily autonomy.
This episode underscores a broader issue facing Mexico, where approximately 70% of women aged 15 and older have experienced at least one incident of sexual harassment during their lives, according to UN Women data.
