“It was a moment of closeness”—Emmanuel Macron’s office downplays viral video showing French president’s wife pushing his face

In a recent video, Brigitte Macron was seen shoving Emmanuel Macron in the face as they were about to step off their plane in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 25. Since then, the split-second gesture made by the president’s wife has gone viral. Netizens shared a spectrum of opinions about the viral video, from speculations of a domestic dispute to questioning whether people would still find it funny if the roles were reversed.

According to a report by E News, Emmanuel Macron’s office shared their statement on May 26 regarding the viral video. An official from the Élysée Palace shared,

"It was a moment when the president and his wife, were relaxing one last time before the start of the trip by having a laugh... It was a moment of closeness"

Emmanuel Macron denies marital tension after viral Vietnam footage

The French president dismissed all opinions that suggested any tension between him and his wife. The footage, which spread like wildfire on social media, showed the couple after their arrival in Vietnam. As the plane doors opened, Brigitte, who remained mostly out of frame, pushed Macron's face away with her hands. The president seemed momentarily startled. However, Emmanuel Macron quickly regained his composure and waved to the cameras.

After the incident, the president shared his side of the story with the reporters

“My wife and I were squabbling, we were rather joking, and I was taken by surprise, now it’s become a kind of planetary catastrophe, and some are even coming up with theories,” he said.

The French politcian, argued that the moment had been misrepresented. He blamed the controversy on intentional misinformation efforts.

“In these three videos I took a tissue, shook someone's hand and just joked with my wife, as we do quite often. Nothing more,” he shared, citing a pattern of recent distortions.

He pointed to "networks that are quite well-traceable," blamed “the Russians” and “the extremists in France” for spreading manipulated content. He also referred to some of the commentators as “crackpots.”

Macron’s trip to Vietnam was just a start to his broader Southeast Asian tour. His visit can be termed monumental, as it's the first such visit by a French president in nearly a decade. Macron hopes to position France as a strategic alternative to both the United States of America and China. He is also set to visit Indonesia and Singapore during the trip.

What do we know about France’s first lady Brigitte Macron

Brigitte Macron is the First Lady of France. She was born Brigitte Trogneux on April 13, 1953, in Amiens, France. Brigitte is currently 72 years old .

Over the years, Brigitte and Emmanuel's relationship has gained widespread attention, in part due to their 25-year age gap and the fact that Macron first met Brigitte as a student at the school where she taught drama. Known then as Madame Auzière, she was married to banker André-Louis Auzière and had three children: Tiphaine, Sébastien, and Laurence. Following her divorce in 2006, Brigitte married Emmanuel Macron in 2007.

Financially, Brigitte Macron stands apart from her husband. While Emmanuel Macron’s assets appear modest, Brigitte has inherited significant wealth. Her most notable property is Villa Monéjan, a four-story home in Le Touquet handed down by her parents. The villa, renovated partly with a €350,000 loan, is currently valued between €2.7 and €2.8 million.

In addition, Brigitte owns two commercial properties. Those properties previously earned her 27,599 euros in rental income in 2021, a rise from €23,586 in 2017. Thanks to these holdings, French media speculate her net worth could hit $10 million by 2025, making her one of Europe’s more financially self-reliant First Ladies.

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