Macron's Wife Slaps Him Before Exiting Plane in Vietnam

An unexpected scene involving French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, upon their arrival in Vietnam has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. The footage, captured by an Associated Press camera on Sunday, May 25, at Hanoi's airport, depicts a tense moment just before the presidential couple disembarks the aircraft. The video shows Brigitte Macron slapping her husband while still inside the plane.

Emmanuel Macron appears visibly surprised by the action but quickly regains his composure to exit the plane and greet the public as if nothing happened. This gesture caught the attention of both the media and social media users, rapidly going viral. In the same sequence, when the President attempts to offer his arm to his wife to descend the stairs together—a common gesture during official appearances—Brigitte seemingly ignores him.

Media Frenzy Overshadows Diplomatic Mission

The incident has sparked a media storm that has overshadowed the official goal of the visit: enhancing trade relations between France and Southeast Asia. Initially, the French President's office, the Elysee Palace, denied the video's authenticity. However, as the footage gained traction and was verified by international media, the narrative shifted to downplay the episode as "a simple joke between spouses."

"It was a moment of relaxation before the trip; they were just joking around," a source close to the presidential circle told the newspaper Le Parisien. Another aide described it as an "innocent spat." Macron himself dismissed the matter when speaking to journalists in Hanoi, stating, "I was joking with my wife. It's turning into some sort of global catastrophe," he added, clearly irritated by the uproar.

The Macron Relationship Under Scrutiny

Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron have been under the public eye since their relationship began, largely due to their age difference and the unconventional origins of their romance. Brigitte was his high school drama teacher when they met; he was 15, and she was 39, married with three children. Despite initial strong opposition from their surroundings, they solidified their relationship over the years, marrying in 2007. The airplane incident is merely one more in a series of moments caught on video, exploited by opponents and far-right figures to fuel conspiracy theories or launch personal attacks on the President.

Macron on the Defensive in the Viral Age

Recently, Macron lamented how his audiovisual content has been distorted on social networks, citing an example during a trip to Ukraine where a handkerchief was mistakenly identified as a bag of drugs. He also referenced the controversy over a handshake with Turkish President Erdogan at a European summit. "The world we live in allows for all sorts of theories. We have no time to waste," he concluded during a media briefing.

The Spectacle Versus Substance

While the episode has captured global attention, it also opens the door to a more critical reflection. The fact that a gesture between a presidential couple—joking or not—becomes the focal point of a diplomatic trip underscores the outsized role that viral content now plays in international politics. It also highlights how spectacle often displaces substantive issues.

Although Macron downplays the event, it is crucial not to lose sight of the focus of his Vietnam trip: economic commitments, strategic cooperation, and the growing geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. And while this time the slap came from his wife, many French citizens—especially those from sectors affected by unpopular policies—might see in this scene an unwitting metaphor for the growing discontent with his leadership. In times of political, economic, or energy crises, the last thing a leader needs is to give reasons, real or symbolic, to receive slaps.