French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed a viral video showing his wife Brigitte apparently pushing him in the face as nothing more than light-hearted joking, amid a storm of conspiracy theories and disinformation spread by Russian state media and far-right commentators.
The footage, captured as the presidential couple prepared to exit their plane in Hanoi during a high-profile visit to Vietnam, quickly made headlines around the world. In the clip, Brigitte Macron’s hand briefly appears to shove the French president’s face, causing him to recoil before breaking into a smile and waving at cameras.
While the moment looked awkward to some viewers, Macron was quick to clarify the context to reporters on the ground. “We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife,” he said. “It’s being blown up into a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe.”
Why Did The Moment Go Viral?
The timing of the video’s viral spread was no coincidence. Russian state media and social media accounts aligned with the Kremlin seized on the footage, mocking the incident and suggesting it was evidence of domestic discord. Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, sarcastically wondered on Telegram whether Brigitte “miscalculated her strength” while “cheering up her husband with a gentle pat.”
“It was a moment of closeness,” said an Élysée Palace official, “just a bit of larking around before the official visit started.” Another source explained that the Macrons often joke in this way, with Emmanuel known for teasing Brigitte before events – and she responding in kind. “It wasn’t even a slap.”
The episode is emblematic of the wider problem Macron faces with disinformation campaigns targeting him. In recent weeks, videos have been twisted to suggest everything from alleged drug use with other world leaders to staged conflicts with political opponents. The French president has openly criticised such misinformation, urging people to “calm down” and see these viral clips for what they really are.
Macron also highlighted the alliance between Russian propagandists and French far-right extremists who amplify such conspiracies to undermine his leadership. “They’ve explained that my diplomacy was like that of a battered husband,” Macron joked wryly, underscoring the absurdity of the claims.
What Is The Age Gap Between Emmanuel Macron And His Wife?
The couple’s relationship, well known in France, is rooted in a decades-long love story that began when Brigitte Auzière was Emmanuel Macron’s drama teacher in high school. Despite the 24-year age gap and initial controversy, they married in 2007 and have since been seen as a strong, supportive couple.
On this visit to Vietnam, the first by a French presidential couple in nearly ten years, the Macrons were there to solidify significant economic deals worth billions, including major Airbus contracts and cooperation on nuclear energy, defence, and vaccines.
The “push” incident – while viral – should be seen as a rare, candid glimpse of the couple’s playful dynamic rather than fodder for geopolitical conspiracy. In an age of online misinformation, even innocent moments can be weaponised to spread division and doubt.
Macron’s takeaway? Behind the flashes of cameras and global stagecraft, he and Brigitte are just two people who joke, tease, and decompress like anyone else – no matter how much the internet tries to spin the story otherwise.
