Mexico’s First Female President Assaulted in Public

CBS News reports that while greeting citizens in Mexico City’s historic downtown, President Claudia Sheinbaum was approached by a visibly drunk man who placed his hands on her and appeared to lean in for a kiss. A video of the incident quickly went viral, showing Sheinbaum calmly pushing his hands away and saying, “Don’t worry,” while maintaining composure.

The president later confirmed she had filed charges, calling the act an assault on all women. She said that harassment is a widespread issue in Mexico and shared that she had experienced similar incidents earlier in life. “No man has the right to violate that space,” she said in a government-released video.

Mexico City’s mayor, Clara Brugada, voiced strong support, stating, “If they touch the president, they touch all of us.” Sheinbaum’s election was hailed as a breakthrough for women in politics, and her response to the incident has sparked national reflection on gender-based violence.

The man was arrested, and Mexico’s National Governors Conference condemned the act, calling for zero tolerance toward violence against women.