A video surfaced online on Monday 26 May appearing to show French President Emmanuel Macron being slapped or shoved in the face by his wife, Brigitte Macron, shortly after the couple landed in Vietnam as part of a Southeast Asia tour.
The brief clip, recorded as the couple disembarked their plane at Hanoi Airport, captured a seemingly tense moment as the aircraft door opened.
The footage showed President Macron appearing in the doorway, followed by Brigitte, who placed both hands on his face and pushed him back.
In the same sequence, she seemed to deliver a light slap before the pair continued down the aircraft stairs.
President Macron Slap
While French officials were gathered at the base of the steps to greet the couple, Macron appeared momentarily startled by the gesture but quickly regained his composure.
Also Read: Itumbi Lectures Gachagua in a Scathing Attack
He paused to wave to onlookers from the top of the stairs before proceeding in a different direction after Brigitte was briefly out of the camera’s frame.
The Elysee Palace has downplayed the incident, characterizing it as a “misinterpreted moment” between the president and the first lady, though no official statement has been released.
The video has fueled speculation online and drawn varied reactions from the public and media, but French authorities have not indicated that any formal issue has arisen between the presidential couple.
President Macron is in Vietnam for diplomatic meetings as part of a broader Southeast Asia visit focused on trade, regional security, and climate cooperation.
President Macron, 47, and Brigitte 72 got married in 2007 with a 24-year-age gap.
Brigitte was 39 years old in a Catholic School in France when Macron, a 15-year-old boy started having feeling for her.
Also Read: Juja MP George Koimburi Found After Abduction
Previous Slap on French President
Back in 2012, Macron was also slapped in the face by a man during a visit to a small town in southeastern France, an incident that prompted a wide show of support for the head of state from politicians across the ideological spectrum.
The French president was greeting the public waiting for him behind barriers in the town of Tain-l’Hermitage after he visited a high school that is training students to work in hotels and restaurants.
Macron described the incident as an “isolated act” in an interview.
“Everything goes well … We must not let isolated acts, ultra-violent individuals, like there had been some also in (street) protests, dominate the public debate: they don’t deserve it,” he said.
The Mariage of Macron
They first met in 1993 when Emmanuel, then 15, was a student at Lycée La Providence in Amiens, where Brigitte was his drama teacher.
Despite their 24-year age difference, their bond deepened over time, leading to a romantic relationship that faced societal scrutiny.
Emmanuel’s parents even relocated him to Paris to distance him from Brigitte, but their connection endured.
Brigitte divorced her first husband, André-Louis Auzière, in 2006, and the couple married on October 20, 2007, in Le Touquet, a coastal town in northern France.
Brigitte has openly discussed the challenges of their relationship, particularly concerning the impact on her three children, who were close in age to Emmanuel.
Since their marriage, Brigitte has been a steadfast presence in Emmanuel’s political journey.
She resigned from her teaching position in 2015 to support his career, becoming a key advisor and confidante.
Brigitte has focused on initiatives related to education, disabilities, and child protection, notably founding the LIVE (Institute of Vocations for Employment) project, which supports young adults who are neither in employment nor training.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
