The French president began a grand tour of France last week ahead of regional elections and next year’s presidential vote, with the trip expected to include around a dozen stops over the next two months.
French President Emmanuel Macron received an unpleasant welcome during a tour of a village in the department of Drome, southeastern France on Tuesday, when an unidentified man slapped him in the face as he approached local residents to shake hands.
The incident was caught on camera as a bearded man wearing glasses and a face mask slapping the president hard on his left cheek. Macron’s security detail immediately rushed in to detain the man, with local gendarmerie also stepping in to assist.
Elysee Palace later confirmed to local media that the incident took place and indicated that two people were arrested in connection with the altercation.
It’s not immediately clear what specific grievances prompted the man to attack Macron, with the individual shouting “Down with Macronie!” shortly before slapping the president.
French media later described the attacker as an “anarchist.”
