An unexpected scene featuring the French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte upon their arrival in Vietnam has sparked a flurry of comments on social media.
The images, captured by a camera from the American agency Associated Press on Sunday, May 25, at the Hanoi airport, reveal a tense moment just before the presidential couple disembarked from the plane.
In the video, Brigitte Macron's hand can be seen delivering a slap to her husband's face while they are still inside the aircraft.
Emmanuel Macron reacts visibly surprised, but quickly regains his composure to exit the plane and greet as if nothing had happened.
The gesture caught the attention of media and social media users, going viral immediately. In the same sequence, when the president tries to offer his arm to his wife to go down the stairs together—as they typically do during official appearances—Brigitte pretends not to see him.
The incident unleashed a media scandal that has overshadowed the official aim of the visit: strengthening commercial ties between France and Southeast Asia.
The Elíseo denies, then downplays
The office of the French president, the Élysée Palace, initially denied the authenticity of the video.
However, in light of the growing dissemination of the images and their confirmation by international media, the strategy changed: they began to downplay the incident, labeling it as "a simple joke between spouses."
"It was a moment when the president and his wife were relaxing before starting the trip, joking around," said a source from the presidential circle to the newspaper Le Parisien. Another collaborator described it as a "harmless quarrel."
Macron himself downplayed the matter while speaking to reporters in Hanoi. "I was joking with my wife," he stated. "It's nothing. It's becoming something of a geopolitical catastrophe," he added ironically, visibly annoyed by the uproar.
The story of a relationship always under scrutiny
Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron have been under scrutiny since the beginning of their relationship, especially due to their age difference and the unconventional origin of their love story. She was his theater teacher in high school when they first met; he was 15 years old, and she was 39, married and a mother of three.
Despite the strong initial rejection from their surroundings, Brigitte and Emmanuel solidified their relationship over the years and got married in 2007.
The incident on the plane, far from being an isolated event, adds to a series of video moments that have been used by opponents and far-right figures to fuel conspiracy theories or launch personal attacks on the leader.
A defensive president in the era of virality
Macron recently denounced how his audiovisual content has been distorted on social media, citing an example from a trip to Ukraine, where a handkerchief was mistakenly interpreted as a bag of drugs. He also mentioned the controversy over a handshake with Turkish President Erdogan at a European summit.
"The world we live in gives rise to all kinds of theories. We have no time to waste," he concluded in his statement to the media.
The media's frivolity in the face of a lack of priorities
Although the episode has garnered worldwide attention, it has also opened the door for more critical reflection. The fact that a gesture between a presidential couple—joke or not—has become the focal point of a diplomatic visit underscores the disproportionate role that virality plays in today's international politics.
But it also shows how the spectacle often overshadows the underlying issues.
While Macron downplays the issue, it should not be overlooked that his presence in Vietnam will focus on economic commitments, strategic cooperation, and the growing geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
And although this time the blow came from his wife, many French people—especially from social sectors affected by unpopular policies—might see in the scene an involuntary metaphor for the growing discontent with his leadership.
Because in times of political, economic, or energy crisis, the last thing a leader needs is to give reasons, whether real or symbolic, to get slapped.
Frequently Asked Questions about the incident between Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron in Vietnam
What happened between Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte in Vietnam?
Brigitte Macron slapped Emmanuel Macron just before the presidential couple descended from the plane at the airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. The incident was caught on camera and quickly went viral on social media.
How did the Élysée Palace react to the slap video?
Initially, the Élysée Palace denied the authenticity of the video. However, after the incident was confirmed by international media, they changed their stance and downplayed the episode, describing it as "a mere joke between spouses."
What did Emmanuel Macron say about the incident with his wife?
Emmanuel Macron downplayed the incident, stating that "I was joking with my wife" and labeling the uproar as media exaggeration, suggesting it was turning into a "geoplanetary catastrophe."
What impact did the incident have on the objective of Macron's visit to Vietnam?
The incident diverted the media's attention from the official purpose of the visit, which was to strengthen trade ties between France and Southeast Asia. The virality of the scene overshadowed the main topics of the diplomatic trip.
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