Emmanuel Macron Dismisses Viral Moment with Wife as 'Joking Around' After Disinformation Sparks Backlash

French President Emmanuel Macron found himself at the center of a viral controversy this week after video footage appeared to show his wife, Brigitte Macron, using both hands to push him in the face as the presidential couple arrived in Vietnam. Initially, the Élysée Palace dismissed the authenticity of the images, suggesting the video was the product of artificial intelligence and part of a pro-Russian disinformation campaign designed to damage Macron's reputation.

However, after closer scrutiny and confirmation from The Associated Press, Macron’s office acknowledged that the video was genuine. The footage, which quickly circulated online, captured a moment as the president stood in the doorway of an aircraft, ready to embark on an official visit. Dressed in a dark suit, Macron was seen being playfully pushed away by Brigitte, whose red sleeves were visible as she placed her hands on his face, one covering his mouth. Observing cameras nearby, Macron smiled and waved before stepping aside. Moments later, the two descended the aircraft stairs together, though Brigitte notably declined to take her husband’s offered arm, maintaining a reserved demeanor.

As the clip gained traction, especially among social media accounts known for their critical stance toward the French leader, the initial narrative shifted. Reports from outlets such as Brèves de presse highlighted the changing explanation from Macron’s team, who eventually characterized the interaction as a private, lighthearted exchange between the couple, indicating no cause for public concern.

“It was a moment where the president and his wife were decompressing one last time before the start of the trip by horsing around. It’s a moment of complicity,” a spokesperson from the Élysée stated. They further accused conspiracy theorists of exploiting the video for political ammunition.

Addressing reporters directly, President Macron sought to downplay the significance of the incident. “We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife,” he explained. “This is being turned into a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe.” Macron also referenced a series of recent viral rumors about his personal life, urging the public to remain skeptical of such stories. “For three weeks … there are people who have watched videos and think I shared a bag of cocaine, that I had a fight with the Turkish president, and that now I’m having a domestic dispute with my wife. None of these are true. Everyone needs to calm down,” he said.

The episode highlights not only the challenges world leaders face amid the proliferation of viral content but also the increasing difficulty in distinguishing authentic moments from digital fabrications. The French presidency’s rapid response, shifting from denial to confirmation, underscores the sensitive environment surrounding public figures in the age of social media warfare and information manipulation.