The now-viral footage shows the presidential couple aboard an aircraft moments before landing in Vietnam. As Macron turns toward his wife, her hands are seen quickly making contact with his face—an action interpreted by many as a playful but firm slap. Macron appears momentarily stunned but swiftly recovers, offering a wave to onlookers outside the plane before descending the staircase with Brigitte by his side.
Macron Responds: “We’re Bickering and Joking”
When questioned by reporters, Macron was quick to downplay the incident, calling the frenzy surrounding the video exaggerated.
“We are bickering and joking with my wife and a video becomes a sort of geoplanetary catastrophe,” he said.
He added with a laugh,
“In the world we live in, we don’t have a lot of time to lose… this is all a bit of nonsense.”
The Viral Moment and the Spin
The short clip from their arrival has sparked widespread reactions—some humorous, some concerned—mainly because of the initial response from Macron’s team. At first, presidential aides denied anything unusual happened, only to later acknowledge the interaction after the footage circulated globally.
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One aide described the moment as a simple “squabble,” while another official added,
“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.”
Another source echoed the sentiment, calling it a “moment of decompressing” and “joking around” before the diplomatic visit officially began.
Public Reactions and Cultural Humor
While some critics have called the incident inappropriate, many observers have interpreted the exchange as a light-hearted, very human moment between a long-married couple. Macron and Brigitte, who tied the knot in 2007, are no strangers to public scrutiny—and this instance only adds to their long list of viral moments.
The French public, known for their appreciation of candid behavior from public figures, appear divided—some laughing it off, others questioning the decorum of such a gesture during a formal state visit.
Conclusion: A Moment of Marital Mischief or a Media Overreaction?
Regardless of interpretation, President Macron’s relaxed attitude toward the slap—and his humorous response—suggest he’s not losing sleep over it. The couple carried on with their official welcome in Vietnam shortly after, unfazed by the online storm brewing around them.
In the end, what some saw as a scandal, Macron simply brushed off as “a bit of nonsense.”
