French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron put on a united front on Tuesday as they wrapped up a state visit to Vietnam that had been dominated by viral footage of a heated moment between the couple.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced showing Brigitte Macron shoving her husband’s face with both hands as they disembarked from their presidential jet in Hanoi on Sunday evening.
While the president appeared startled, he quickly composed himself and waved to the officials waiting for him.
Initially, Macron’s office attempted to discredit the video, claiming it was an AI-generated fake.
However, this narrative collapsed within hours as officials admitted the footage was authentic, though they insisted it captured nothing more than a playful moment between the couple.
“My wife and I were squabbling, we were rather joking,” Macron told reporters, adding, “It was taken out of context.”
A Defiant Response from Macron
Macron lashed out at what he called a wave of conspiracy theories and misinformation, linking the incident to previous false claims that he had used cocaine with European leaders or fought Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Now I am having a domestic dispute with my wife,” he said sarcastically. “Everyone needs to calm down.”
The French leader suggested that pro-Russian disinformation campaigns were seizing on the clip to sow chaos, particularly by exaggerating personal moments to fuel public mistrust.
Public Display of Unity
On Tuesday morning, the Macrons arrived arm in arm at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, where the president delivered a keynote speech. Hours later, they were seen holding hands and smiling as they boarded their aircraft to depart Vietnam, sending clear signals of solidarity amid the media frenzy.
Elysee Palace Downplays the Drama
Officials close to Macron described the incident as a private moment of “decompression,” dismissing allegations of marital strife.
“It was a moment of closeness,” said one Elysee aide. “They were joking, relaxing before the formal proceedings began.”
Another advisor echoed the sentiment, accusing conspiracy theorists of twisting the encounter:
“No more was needed to feed the mills of the conspiracy theorists.”
A Relationship Often in the Spotlight
The Macrons’ relationship has long intrigued the public. Brigitte, 72, was Macron’s drama teacher when they met at a private school in Amiens. Their romance began when he was still a teenager, a narrative that has sparked both admiration and scrutiny throughout Macron’s political career.
Despite frequent speculation about their marriage, the couple continues to appear closely bonded in public, often engaging in candid displays of affection.
As the Vietnam visit ends, Macron appears determined to steer attention back to state matters, but the episode serves as a reminder of the increasingly blurred lines between personal lives and political optics in the digital age.
