French President Emmanuel Macron’s office has downplayed an incident in which his wife, Brigitte Macron, was seen slapping his face as he arrived in Vietnam to begin a Southeast Asian tour.
Footage captured by the local media on Sunday evening shows President Macron emerging from his plane, where Brigitte’s arms appear from the doorway and she places both hands on his face, giving it a shove. The president looks momentarily surprised but quickly recovers and waves to the crowd. Brigitte Macron remains out of full view, and her expression is not visible.
Here is the video that went viral on social media:
The couple then descended the aircraft stairs for an official welcome, with Brigitte declining to take her husband’s offered arm. The video quickly spread online, especially among critics of the French leader.
Initially, Macron’s office denied the authenticity of the footage, but later confirmed it was genuine. A close associate described the moment as a harmless “squabble” between the couple, while another member of the president’s entourage said it was simply a lighthearted moment as the pair relaxed before the start of the official visit.