Viral Video Sparks Speculation of Altercation Involving French President

A video that surfaced online over the weekend has ignited global speculation about a brief but striking moment involving French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, during their arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The footage, captured as the couple prepared to disembark from their presidential plane on May 25, 2025, shows the aircraft door opening to reveal Macron standing inside. Suddenly, both of Brigitte Macron’s hands emerge from the side and appear to give the president’s face a quick shove. Macron appears momentarily startled but quickly regains his composure, waving to onlookers and cameras outside the aircraft before the couple descends the stairs together.

The incident rapidly went viral, prompting a flurry of reactions and interpretations. Some social media users and commentators suggested it could indicate a private disagreement or an unusual exchange between the couple. Others dismissed it as a harmless, playful gesture, highlighting the couple’s known sense of humor and longstanding relationship.

President Macron addressed the incident directly while speaking to reporters in Hanoi. He dismissed the speculation as exaggerated, stating, “We are teasing and having fun with my wife, and a video turns into a sort of global disaster… This is all somewhat absurd.” Macron confirmed the authenticity of the video but criticized the tendency to overanalyze such moments, attributing the uproar to a broader pattern of misinformation and conspiracy theories targeting him in recent weeks.

Officials close to the president also sought to downplay the incident, describing it as a light-hearted moment of decompression before the start of a busy official tour. “It was a moment when the president and his wife were unwinding one last time before the trip by being playful. It was a moment of connection. All it took was this to fuel the conspiracy theorists,” a source from Macron’s office explained.

Although Macron’s office initially denied any incident occurred, they later acknowledged the authenticity of the footage and reiterated that the interaction was innocent. However, no detailed official statement addressing the specifics of the moment was released, leaving room for continued speculation and debate in both French and international media.

The viral video comes amid Macron’s five-day state journey through Southeast Asia, which includes visits to Indonesia and Singapore, and follows recent incidents involving the spread of misinformation about the French leader.