The French first couple is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. A shocking video of French President Emmanuel Macron has gone viral on social media, showing his wife Brigitte appearing to slap him in the face.
The incident reportedly took place shortly after the French presidential plane landed in Vietnam.
According to reports, Macron's office initially denied the embarrassing video but later tried to downplay the incident, calling it "playful teasing."
Video footage from the Associated Press, captured in Hanoi on Sunday night, shows President Macron's aircraft door opening. As he appears in the doorway, his wife Brigitte reaches out from the left side, places her hands on his face, and pushes it away. Though momentarily surprised, Macron quickly regains his composure and waves to those below. Brigitte remains hidden behind the plane's structure, obscuring any view of her reaction or demeanor.
The pair then descend the steps for Vietnam's formal reception, with Brigitte declining to take her husband's extended arm. The footage quickly spread across social media, amplified especially by accounts typically critical of the French president.
A presidential aide later characterised the moment as an innocent marital "spat." Another official minimised its importance, explaining to journalists that it was simply the couple "letting off steam one final time before the trip began through some playful banter." The source described it as "a moment of connection" and suggested that "nothing more was required to fuel conspiracy theorists," attributing negative commentary to pro-Russian social media accounts.
This Vietnam visit marks the beginning of Macron's nearly week-long Southeast Asian tour, where he aims to position France as a dependable partner compared to the United States and China. His itinerary also includes stops in Indonesia and Singapore.
