French President Emmanuel Macron has shrugged off a viral video that appears to show his wife, First Lady Brigitte Macron, playfully pushing him in the face as the couple arrived in Vietnam over the weekend. The clip, which circulated widely on French and international media platforms, sparked a flurry of speculation over whether cameras had captured a domestic dispute mid-disembarkation.
The footage was taken as the Macrons exited their plane in Hanoi on Sunday, marking the start of a Southeast Asia tour. French media were quick to dissect the moment, with Le Parisien publishing a headline asking: “Slap or squabble?”
President Macron addressed the matter during a press briefing, calling the incident nothing more than a light-hearted exchange.
“We were just horsing around and joking,” Macron explained. “This is being blown out of proportion—it's hardly a geo-planetary catastrophe.”
Macron, who has been married to Brigitte since 2007, after the two met while she was his teacher in high school, also used the opportunity to dismiss a series of other viral claims.
“There have been videos suggesting all sorts of nonsense—me sharing cocaine or confronting the Turkish president. None of this is true. Everyone needs to calm down,” he added with a chuckle.
The French president’s Southeast Asia visit continues despite the unexpected social media storm, with officials focusing on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties in the region.