Drama Unfolds as Brigitte Macron Appears to Push President Macron in Startling On-Camera Clash

In a widely circulated video that has taken the internet by storm, Brigitte Macron, France’s First Lady, was seen pushing her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, in a surprising moment caught on film.

The incident occurred Sunday evening as the presidential couple arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, for an official state visit.

Footage shows a staff member opening the door of the presidential aircraft just before 72-year-old Brigitte placed both hands on the 47-year-old President’s face and appeared to gently shove him backward.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, appeared to have a brief altercation upon their arrival in Vietnam on Sunday.

Brigitte was caught on camera placing both of her hands on President Macron’s face.

The unexpected gesture appeared to take President Macron by surprise, as his startled expression was evident when he turned back toward the aircraft’s doorway.

Attempting to play down the uncomfortable moment, he gave a wave to the gathered press and Vietnamese dignitaries awaiting the couple's arrival.

Moments later, Macron briefly stepped back inside the plane, away from public view.

When the pair finally descended the steps together, they walked side by side, though noticeably without any physical contact. Macron seemed to offer his arm to Brigitte, but she declined to link hers with his.

President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte Macron, appeared to have a tense exchange upon arriving in Vietnam on Sunday.

President Emmanuel Macron appeared visibly stunned by the unexpected gesture, his surprised expression evident as he turned toward the plane's doorway.

In an apparent effort to downplay the awkward moment, he gave a polite wave to the waiting press and Vietnamese officials gathered below to welcome the couple.

Shortly after, Macron briefly retreated into the aircraft, stepping out of the public eye for a few moments.

When he and Brigitte eventually reemerged and descended the stairs together, they did so without any physical contact. At one point, Macron seemed to offer his arm to his wife, but she chose not to accept it.

The moment was caught on video as the Macrons didn’t realize a member of their team had already opened the plane’s door.

President Macron quickly attempted to smooth over the incident by smiling and waving at the press and officials waiting below.
REUTERS

On Monday, he addressed the situation in a statement, characterizing the moment as nothing more than playful teasing between him and his wife. “We were bickering, joking even,” he said, urging people to “calm down.”

Macron also accused his political rivals of exaggerating the event and turning it into what he sarcastically described as “some kind of geo-planetary disaster,” dismissing the speculation as “complete nonsense.”

A source familiar with the president also minimized the incident in comments to Agence France-Presse, the Paris-based international news outlet.

As they descended the aircraft stairs, the Macrons noticeably refrained from linking arms.

On Monday, the French president minimized the significance of the incident in an official statement.

He described the interaction with his wife as lighthearted, saying they were "playfully arguing, more in jest than anything else.

“It was simply a light-hearted moment where the president and his wife were unwinding together before officially beginning their visit,” a source told the publication.

“It was just a shared moment between them — nothing more, yet enough to fuel conspiracy theories.”

The Macrons tied the knot in 2007, though their relationship has often drawn public attention, largely because Brigitte first met Emmanuel when he was 15 and she was his drama teacher.