French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed claims of a domestic dispute after a viral video appeared to show his wife, Brigitte, pushing him in the face. The video, which quickly spread across social media platforms—especially those linked to Russian state media and far-right accounts—showed the French president stepping back as his wife’s hand made contact with his face while they were about to disembark from a plane in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The video, captured by an Associated Press camera operator, depicts a lighthearted moment between the couple. Despite this, some outlets took to framing the interaction as a sign of marital discord. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was among those to seize on the footage, sharing a sarcastic post on Telegram that referred to the incident as a “right hook.” She speculated that Brigitte Macron’s actions, which appeared to be a playful shove, were either an accident or an act of aggression.
“Did the first lady decide to cheer up her husband with a gentle pat on the cheek and miscalculated her strength?” Zakharova questioned in her mocking post. “Maybe it was the ‘hand of the Kremlin,’” she added, referencing the notion of Russian influence, as amplified by the Russian state TV channel, RT.
Macron, speaking to reporters in Hanoi, clarified the situation, explaining that the video simply captured a moment of playfulness. “We were just joking around, as we often do,” he stated. He further dismissed the interpretations that had been circulating, emphasizing that such claims were “untrue.”
An official from the Élysée Palace also weighed in, calling the incident “a moment of closeness” and stating that such interactions were typical between the couple before official events. Another palace source elaborated that Macron enjoys making lighthearted jokes with his wife, especially in the moments before public appearances, and that Brigitte always responds with playful gestures like this one. “It wasn’t even a slap,” they added.
The viral video, which has garnered significant attention, was part of a larger trend of misinterpreted footage involving Macron. The French president referenced other viral clips, including one where people mistakenly believed he shared a bag of cocaine or was engaged in a physical altercation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
On the same day, Macron downplayed these ongoing conspiracy theories, remarking that similar false narratives had been spread by both Russian and French extremist groups. He pointed to the recent, baseless accusation from Zakharova and US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who had wrongly suggested that Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were seen using drugs on a train to Kyiv.
Despite the media frenzy, Macron’s trip to Vietnam continued as planned. During his visit, France and Vietnam signed multiple agreements, including a €9 billion deal for Airbus planes and other key contracts in defense, nuclear energy, rail, maritime transport, and pharmaceuticals. This visit marks the first official visit by a French presidential couple to the former French colony in nearly a decade.
Macron’s visit to Vietnam comes amid tensions arising from global trade disputes, especially those exacerbated by Donald Trump’s tariffs. The trip serves to strengthen ties between the two nations, with new commercial ventures that reflect both countries’ broader aspirations in global economic development.
As Macron and his wife Brigitte continue their diplomatic mission, the incident has not deterred their efforts. Instead, it has provided further fodder for critics, highlighting the challenges of navigating the digital age, where misinformation and sensationalism can distort even the simplest human interactions.