Man Arrested After Groping Mexican President

The president of Mexico was forced to fight off a man who touched her body and tried to kiss her as she greeted crowds.

Claudia Sheinbaum, who continued to smile throughout the assault, was heard to say “Don’t worry” as she turned to face the attacker and pushed away his hands, before a political aide stepped in to help.

As footage of the incident in Mexico City on Tuesday spread online, questions were raised about the apparent absence of the president’s security detail, days after the assassination of one of the country’s mayors.

Pamela Cerderia, a Mexican journalist, said: “No woman should go through what President Sheinbaum went through today. Will there be consequences? And what about her safety? Because this is not a mere oversight, it is irresponsibility.”

Ms Sheinbaum, who was elected in Oct 2024, has not commented publicly on the incident. It took place in a week when the Mexican president repeatedly had to address questions about political violence in the country.

On Saturday, the mayor of Uruapan was assassinated in front of dozens of people gathered in a piazza for Day of the Dead festivities.

Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, who had spoken out against drug cartels, died in hospital after being shot several times by a gunman.

In response to the killing, Ms Sheinbaum unveiled a new security strategy, which she said would address the root cause of violence and put more National Guard officers on the streets.

However, she rejected claims that Donald Trump was preparing to send US Army troops to Mexico to confront the country’s powerful drug cartels.

She said: “It’s not going to happen. We do not agree with any process of interference or interventionism. I’ve always said, ‘thank you very much, President Trump’. But no, Mexico is a free, independent and sovereign country.”

Mexico and the US have a long history of collaboration when it comes to tackling drug traffickers but Washington has never sent troops across the border to confront the drug cartels.