Man Gropes Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in Public: Files Complaint to Stand Against Harassment

A troubling incident captured on video has gone viral across social media platforms, showing a man inappropriately touching Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and attempting to kiss her before security personnel intervened.

The alarming footage shows President Sheinbaum engaging with citizens on a street in Mexico City's historic district when an apparently intoxicated individual approached her from behind. The man placed his hand on her shoulder and made an attempt to kiss her neck while simultaneously trying to touch her body with both hands from behind.

Upon noticing the man, President Sheinbaum turned around as security quickly moved him away from her. The President could be heard responding calmly, saying "Don't worry," and even agreeing to take a photograph with the individual while giving him a pat on the back.

Despite her composed reaction in the moment, Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she had filed an official police complaint after discovering the same individual had continued to harass other women. In Mexico City, sexual harassment constitutes a punishable offense under law.

"If I don't file a complaint, what message does that send to other Mexican women? If they do this to the president, what will happen to all women in our country?" Sheinbaum stated during her morning press conference.

"This person approached me completely drunk; I'm uncertain if he was under the influence of drugs," she explained. "It wasn't until reviewing the videos that I fully realized what had actually occurred."

The President further announced that her government would review whether such behavior "is classified as a criminal offense across all states, as it absolutely should be, and we will be launching a campaign" to address the issue.

Following the incident going viral, Sheinbaum's security detail faced substantial criticism for their delayed response.

According to data from UN Women, approximately 70 percent of Mexican women aged 15 and above experience at least one incident of sexual harassment during their lifetime.