French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed claims of a physical altercation with his wife, Brigitte, after a viral video appeared to show her pushing him in the face. The footage, captured by an Associated Press camera operator as the couple prepared to disembark in Hanoi, Vietnam, was seized upon by Russian state media and far-right accounts.
In the video, Macron appears to step back after his wife's hand makes contact with his face. The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, mocked the incident on Telegram, suggesting the president received 'a right hook'. The clip was repeatedly aired by Russia Today and associated social media accounts.
Macron told reporters in Hanoi that the couple were 'joking around, as we do quite often'. An Élysée Palace official described the scene as 'a moment of closeness', while another source said they were 'decompressing one last time before the start of the visit, larking around'. The official added: 'It wasn't even a slap.'
Macron noted that other videos of him had been misinterpreted, including false claims of drug use on a train to Kyiv. He said internet accounts making such claims were 'familiar', allying Russians with French extremists. 'Everyone needs to calm down,' he added.
The incident occurred as the Macrons embarked on the first formal visit by a French presidential couple to Vietnam in nearly a decade. France and Vietnam signed deals worth €9 billion (£7.55 billion), covering Airbus planes, defence, and other pacts.
