Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has filed a complaint against a man who groped her and attempted to kiss her while she was walking between meetings in Mexico City, a day after a video of the incident went viral.
Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, said, “If this happens to the president, where does that leave all the young women in our country? No man has the right to abuse a woman’s personal space.”
The video, which circulated widely on social media before being removed from some accounts, highlights the insecurity women face in Mexico, a country grappling with machismo and gender-based violence. Questions have also been raised about the president’s security, as she often travels with minimal protection to stay accessible to the public. Sheinbaum said she has no plans to change that approach, emphasizing, “We have to be close to the people.”
The incident occurred in the historic centre of the capital on Tuesday as Sheinbaum walked from the National Palace to the Ministry of Education, greeting members of the public. The video shows a middle-aged man placing his arm around her, touching her chest, and attempting to kiss her before she moved his hands away and staff intervened. Sheinbaum said the man appeared intoxicated.
Sheinbaum also criticised Reforma newspaper for publishing images of the assault, calling it “re-victimisation” and a breach of ethics. She referred to legislation against digital violence and is awaiting an apology from the outlet.
The federal Women’s Ministry, created under Sheinbaum, encouraged women to report violence and urged media not to circulate content that violates women’s integrity. Activists have long criticised Sheinbaum for weak action against gender-based violence; Mexico reported 821 femicides in 2024 and 501 as of September 2025, though the true figures are likely higher.
Ana Yeli Perez from the National Citizen Observatory on Femicide said the incident has refocused national attention on violence against women, calling it both “reprehensible and symbolic of daily experiences faced by women.”
Sheinbaum added that sexual harassment should be criminalised nationwide and has asked the Women’s Ministry to review state laws. Currently, harassment is a crime in about half of Mexico’s states, including Mexico City.
Authorities have identified the man accused as Uriel Rivera, who was arrested on Tuesday evening at 9pm.
