HARNOI: French President Emmanuel Macron has responded to a viral video showing his wife, Brigitte Macron, appearing to slap him lightly on the face as they disembarked from their plane in Vietnam.
As the aircraft door opened upon their arrival in Hanoi, cameras captured a brief but surprising moment when Brigitte raised her hand toward President Macron’s face.
The President, visibly startled, quickly smiled and waved to the awaiting crowd. The incident instantly sparked widespread speculation and reactions on social media, with many claiming that the French First Lady had slapped the President.
The video spread like wildfire online, prompting intense public curiosity and commentary.
Addressing the incident in a press briefing, President Macron downplayed the gesture, saying, “It was nothing serious—just a lighthearted moment between me and my wife.” He added, “This is being portrayed as some kind of major scandal or catastrophe, but it was simply a bit of playful teasing.”
The couple is currently in Vietnam as part of a week-long diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, which also includes visits to Indonesia and Singapore.
