French President Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia began with unexpected controversy after his wife, Brigitte Macron, visibly shoved him in the face as they exited their plane in Hanoi, Vietnam. The incident, captured on video, shows Brigitte placing both hands on Macron’s face and pushing him firmly before remaining inside the aircraft. Macron quickly composed himself after the “squabble” and greeted officials, but the footage quickly spread online, sparking widespread media attention.
Initially, Macron’s office denied the authenticity of the footage. However, they later confirmed it was genuine and dismissed the incident as a harmless “squabble.” Macron addressed the situation, stating, “We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife,” and criticized the media for exaggerating the event into “a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe.” He added, “People are saying all sorts of nonsense. Everyone needs to calm down.”
Sources close to the president described the interaction as a lighthearted moment between the couple before the start of the official tour. They accused pro-Russian disinformation efforts of leveraging the video for conspiracy theories. Brigitte Macron, 72, and Emmanuel Macron, 47, have been married since 2007. The couple’s relationship has often been in the public eye due to their age difference and unconventional beginnings.
Macron’s visit to Vietnam, formerly part of French Indochina, marks the beginning of a week-long tour aimed at positioning France as a strategic alternative to the U.S. and China in Southeast Asia. Other planned stops include Indonesia and Singapore. Despite the initial distraction, Macron continues with his diplomatic engagements, focusing on strengthening France’s ties in the region.
