In a moment that quickly caught the internet’s attention, French President Emmanuel Macron downplayed a brief but striking interaction with his wife, Brigitte Macron, during their arrival in Vietnam. A video that surfaced late Sunday showed the French First Lady appearing to push her husband’s face away as he prepared to step off the presidential plane.
The couple had just landed in Hanoi, marking the start of Macron’s Southeast Asia tour. In the clip, President Macron is seen standing at the aircraft door and waving, when Brigitte’s hand seemingly shoves his face, causing him to step back slightly before regaining composure and continuing his descent. She then remained briefly behind the plane’s fuselage, obscured from view, before joining her husband to walk down the stairs—noticeably refusing his offered arm.
The video quickly circulated on social media, prompting speculation about the couple’s dynamic. However, President Macron swiftly addressed the moment, calling it playful. “I was bickering, or rather joking, with my wife,” he told reporters in Hanoi. “It’s nothing.”
He also warned about misinterpretation of videos, referencing a previous incident that led to baseless rumors. “It’s not the first time people have twisted video content,” he added, labeling the spreaders of such speculation as “crackpots.”
Macron was likely referring to a recent social media frenzy involving a video from his visit to Ukraine, where he was seen picking up a crumpled white object. Some online users speculated it was a bag of cocaine—a claim his office strongly denied, clarifying it was just a tissue. French officials condemned the rumors as fake news promoted by adversaries of France.
Earlier on Monday, an Elysee Palace spokesperson commented on the Vietnam video, saying, “It was a light-hearted moment between the president and his wife. They were sharing a laugh before the trip officially began. It was simply a moment of closeness.”
Despite the viral distraction, Macron’s Vietnam visit carries significant political weight. This marks the first official visit by a French president to Vietnam in nearly a decade. The goal? To strengthen France’s presence and influence in the region, particularly in Vietnam, a former French colony with a rapidly growing export-based economy.
Vietnam has been navigating complex trade relations, making concessions to the United States to avoid hefty 46% tariffs. However, the European Union has expressed concerns that Vietnam’s efforts to meet U.S. demands may put European trade relations at risk.
The international stage remains tense. Just days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on EU imports but later extended the deadline for further negotiations until July 9, slightly easing the pressure on Brussels.
As Macron pushes diplomatic efforts forward in Asia, the brief plane-door incident may be remembered more for its viral value than its political significance—but it serves as a reminder of how easily personal moments can become headline news in the digital age.
