French President Emmanuel Macron has firmly denied allegations of an altercation with his wife, Brigitte Macron, following the circulation of a viral video. This footage, promoted by Russian state media and French far-right accounts, seemingly depicts Brigitte pushing Emmanuel in the face as they were disembarking from a plane in Vietnam.
The video, captured by an Associated Press camera operator, shows President Macron standing in the doorway of the aircraft at the onset of their visit to Hanoi. In the clip, his wife's hand appears to make contact with his face, prompting him to step back momentarily before he regains his composure and waves to onlookers. Interestingly, Brigitte’s body is not visible in the footage, leading to speculation about the nature of the gesture. However, Macron clarified to reporters that the interaction was merely playful.
The footage caught the attention of Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, who took to Telegram to mock the incident. She quipped that the president had received “a right hook” and rhetorically questioned whether Brigitte intended to cheer him up with a gentle pat or misjudged her strength. Zakharova's comments came after Russia Today and other affiliated social media channels repeatedly aired the clip, amplifying the speculation surrounding the couple's relationship.
Amid the swirling rumors, Macron addressed reporters in Hanoi, stating that he and his wife were simply “joking around, as we do quite often.” An official from the Élysée Palace also characterized the incident as a “moment of closeness,” though it was enough to fuel conspiracy theories regarding the couple’s dynamic. Another source from the palace mentioned that the couple were “decompressing” before their official engagements, emphasizing that Macron enjoys teasing Brigitte before public appearances.
Macron expressed frustration over the misinterpretation of various videos featuring him. He highlighted the absurdity of past claims, including accusations of sharing a bag of cocaine, engaging in a tussle with the Turkish president, and now facing allegations of a domestic dispute with his wife. “None of this is true. Everyone needs to calm down,” he urged.
Zakharova, along with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, wrongly accused Macron and other European leaders of drug use during a train journey to Kyiv, suggesting that a crumpled tissue was a bag of cocaine. In his remarks, Macron noted that the internet accounts behind such claims were “familiar,” often linking Russian narratives with French extremism.
Despite the media frenzy, the Macrons’ visit to Vietnam marked a significant diplomatic occasion, resulting in agreements valued at €9 billion (£7.55 billion). These deals included the procurement of 20 Airbus planes, as well as cooperation in areas such as nuclear energy, defense, rail, maritime transport, and vaccine development. This visit represents the first formal engagement by a French presidential couple with Vietnam in nearly a decade, highlighting the strengthening ties between the two nations amidst global trade challenges.
