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Mexico City, September 15, 2025 – For the first time in Mexico’s history, a female President led the traditional Independence Day “Grito,” marking an unprecedented moment in the 215-year legacy of this emblematic ceremony. Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who also serves as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, paid tribute to the heroes and heroines who shaped the nation, placing special emphasis on women, Indigenous peoples, and Mexican migrants.
At 11:00 p.m., in front of approximately 280,000 people gathered in Mexico City’s Zócalo, Sheinbaum waved the national flag from the main balcony of the National Palace, accompanied by her husband, Jesús María Tarriba. During her address, the President offered a historic recognition of female figures of the Independence, such as Josefa Ortiz Téllez-Girón, Leona Vicario, and Manuela Molina “La Capitana,” while also honoring the countless anonymous heroines who fought for Mexico’s freedom.
“Long live the heroines and heroes who gave us our homeland! Long live Indigenous women! Long live our sisters and brothers abroad! Long live the dignity of the Mexican people! Long live liberty! Long live equality! Long live democracy! Long live justice! Long live Mexico, free, independent, and sovereign!” proclaimed Sheinbaum in a ceremony symbolizing inclusion and recognition of all voices in the nation.
A historic moment within the ceremony was the participation of female military personnel in the flag protocol. For the first time, the Heroic Military College appointed Military Police Lieutenant Jennifer Samantha Torres Jiménez as flag bearer, with cadets Samira Michel Delgadillo Chávez, Itzel Sarahi Martínez Tozcano, Karla Paola Guevara Pérez, Andrea Carvajal Audelo, and Yetzelany Gallegos Ortiz serving as her escort. This milestone not only represents progress in gender equality within the Armed Forces but also symbolizes the inclusion of women in the nation’s most emblematic patriotic traditions.
President Sheinbaum also revived the tradition of mounting the Honor Guard before the portraits of former Presidents in the National Palace Gallery, placing a portrait of a woman for the first time in history: Leona Vicario, recognized in 1823 as “Distinguished and Sweetest Mother of the Homeland.” This historic gesture underscores the importance of highlighting women’s contributions to the nation’s development.
As part of the patriotic celebrations, the Zócalo was filled with music and color. Attendees enjoyed fireworks displays and performances by renowned artists such as La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, Alejandra Ávalos, and Legado de Grandeza, who entertained the crowd and helped create an atmosphere of unity and celebration.
The 2025 Independence Day “Grito” will be remembered not only for the solemnity of the event and citizen participation but also for marking a historic milestone: for the first time, a woman presided over Mexico’s most important patriotic ceremony, reinforcing a message of equality, justice, and recognition for all Mexicans who throughout history have defended the nation’s freedom and dignity.
In a year defined by inclusion and the celebration of diversity, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s leadership in this historic “Grito” sends a clear message: Mexico recognizes and celebrates the central role of women in shaping its identity and defending its independence.
