French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed viral rumors suggesting that his wife, Brigitte Macron, physically assaulted him upon their arrival in Vietnam. He described the speculation as a distortion of reality fueled by disinformation campaigns. The controversy began after footage circulated online showing Brigitte appearing to push her husband’s face as they disembarked from their presidential aircraft in Hanoi on Sunday. The brief clip, recorded by the Associated Press, shows the First Lady extending both hands toward Macron’s face, which some interpreted as an aggressive gesture. However, most of her body is obscured by the aircraft door, making her facial expression and demeanour unclear.
During a press conference on Monday, May 26, President Macron denied that any altercation had occurred, emphasising that the interaction was light-hearted. “My wife and I were squabbling; we were joking, and I was taken by surprise,” he stated. He expressed disappointment over the global reaction to the video, adding, “Now it’s become a kind of planetary catastrophe, and some people are even coming up with theories.” This incident has overshadowed the president’s official visit to Vietnam, which the French government had hoped would showcase France’s strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Instead, it has become the latest in a series of viral moments involving the French leader.
“This is the third week in a row that people have watched videos and mistakenly believe that I shared a bag of cocaine, had a fight with the Turkish president, and am now having a domestic dispute with my wife,” Macron stated. “None of these claims are true.” He emphasised that while the videos are “completely authentic,” the narratives surrounding them are false. In the past, footage has falsely depicted Macron being overpowered in a handshake by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and another clip from a train to Kyiv was misused to accuse the French president of sharing cocaine with German and British officials.
Macron pointed to what he called a coordinated disinformation effort, particularly in light of France’s support for Ukraine. “For three weeks… there are people who have watched videos and think…” he said, implying that malicious interpretation was being used as a political weapon. Following the Vietnam incident, Macron and his wife proceeded to the official welcoming ceremony, although Brigitte Macron notably did not take her husband’s arm when he offered it.
Initially, the Elysée denied the authenticity of the Hanoi video. However, after verification, the footage was confirmed to be real. A presidential aide later downplayed the moment, calling it a harmless “squabble” between the couple.
The personal relationship between the Macrons has long attracted public attention. Brigitte Macron, 72, met her future husband when he was a student in her drama class in Amiens. She later divorced her then-husband and began a relationship with Emmanuel, now 47. As First Lady, she has maintained a high-profile role and previously pursued legal action against false claims about her gender identity circulated on social media.
Source: GraphicOnline