Mexico City— Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was approached and groped by a man appearing to be intoxicated during a public interaction in Mexico City’s historic downtown on Tuesday. The alarming incident, captured on video, showed the man attempting to kiss and touch the president before a government official stepped in to stop him.
In the footage widely shared on social media, Sheinbaum maintained composure, offering a restrained smile as she gently pushed the man’s hands away. She could be heard calmly saying, “Don’t worry,” according to the Associated Press. Her security detail was not immediately visible in the close-up video.
The president’s office has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. Sheinbaum, known for her open and approachable leadership style similar to her mentor and former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, frequently engages with citizens in public spaces, taking selfies and shaking hands.
The episode comes at a tense time for Mexico, as Sheinbaum has recently been addressing concerns over political violence. This follows the assassination of Carlos Manzo, the outspoken mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan, who was shot dead outside a church on Saturday. Michoacan remains one of Mexico’s most violent regions, plagued by conflicts between rival cartels fighting for territorial control and smuggling routes.
President Sheinbaum has vowed to strengthen security and intelligence measures nationwide following Manzo’s killing, reiterating her commitment to curb the country’s escalating violence.
