In a bizarre international flap blending viral video, geopolitical disinformation, and personal scandal, French President Emmanuel Macron has firmly denied rumors of a domestic dispute with First Lady Brigitte Macron — an incident that took center stage during what was intended to be a diplomatic showcase of France's Indo-Pacific ambitions.
The controversy erupted after a video, captured by the Associated Press, appeared to show Brigitte Macron jabbing her fingernails into the president’s face just after the couple deplaned in Vietnam.
The footage, now widely circulated, showed President Macron flinching slightly before recovering to wave diplomatically and descend the stairs alongside his wife. Though the exchange lasted only seconds, the internet pounced.
When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.
This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation. pic.twitter.com/xyXhGm9Dsr
— Élysée (@Elysee) May 11, 2025
Macron was quick to downplay the moment, calling it a joke between him and his wife and insisting that he was merely “taken by surprise.” But his explanation quickly turned from lighthearted to accusatory. According to France 24, Macron claimed the viral storm surrounding the clip was no coincidence — it was, in his words, engineered by “the Russians.”
Citing previous smear attempts, including an outlandish Russian-originated rumor that he was using cocaine during a trip to Kyiv alongside UK and German leaders, Macron accused hostile forces of deliberately manipulating narratives to undermine European unity.
“When European unity becomes inconvenient,” the Élysée Palace stated, “disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.”
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded with signature sarcasm, mocking Macron’s assertion. “Maybe it was the ‘hand of the Kremlin?’” she quipped, doubling down on the adversarial tone that has defined recent French-Russian relations.
At the heart of this diplomatic drama lies a recurring theme: the relentless scrutiny of the Macrons' personal life. Their 25-year age gap has long invited media fascination and online speculation, often laced with malicious intent. Brigitte Macron, 72, has fought back aggressively against persistent conspiracy theories — including the claim that she is transgender — winning damages in court for defamation.