French President Emmanuel Macron has downplayed a viral video showing his wife Brigitte pushing his face as they disembarked from a plane in Hanoi, Vietnam. The footage, captured on Sunday, shows Macron speaking to someone off camera before two arms in red sleeves reach out and gently push his face. He steps back, regains his balance, and smiles after noticing the cameras. Brigitte, wearing a red jacket, appears beside him, and they walk down the stairs together.
Macron expressed surprise at the wave of speculation surrounding the incident, describing it as a lighthearted moment between him and his wife. “There’s a video showing me and my wife bickering and joking, and somehow that becomes a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe, with people even coming up with theories to explain it,” he said. The French president also referenced two other recent viral clips, stating that “a lot of lunatics are spending their days interpreting all these videos.”
One of the clips, filmed during a visit to Ukraine, shows Macron on a train with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where he appears to briefly conceal a small object, prompting online speculation about drug use. The Elysee Palace has dismissed these rumors as baseless. Another clip from the European Political Community summit in Albania shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gripping Macron’s finger, which some media outlets interpreted as a subtle power play.
Macron acknowledged all three videos were real but dismissed the online narratives surrounding them. Initially, the Elysee declined to comment on the Hanoi incident, later describing it as a “moment of togetherness.” A source close to the couple revealed that they were simply bickering, nothing more. The Macrons have been married since 2007, and their relationship has been subject to persistent speculation, including claims about Brigitte’s gender, which they have repeatedly denied and taken legal action against.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the scrutiny faced by public figures and the ease with which viral videos can be misinterpreted. As social media continues to play a significant role in shaping public opinion, it is essential to approach such incidents with a critical eye, recognizing the difference between genuine news and baseless speculation. Macron’s response to the incident serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly innocuous moments can be blown out of proportion, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of the lives of public figures.
