A viral video capturing an unexpected moment between French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, has elicited widespread conversation online and in the French media.
The clip, reportedly filmed aboard the presidential aircraft just before landing in Vietnam for a Southeast Asian diplomatic tour, shows Macron chatting with Brigitte near the plane’s exit when she suddenly reaches out and appears to strike him across the mouth.
Visibly startled, the French President quickly regains his composure and waves to waiting reporters.
As they disembark, Macron offers Brigitte his arm, which she declines, choosing instead to hold onto the stair railing.
Though earlier dismissed as fake, the French presidential team later confirmed the authenticity of the video, describing it as light-hearted and harmless.
“It was a moment of togetherness. No more is needed to fuel the conspiracy theorists,” said a source close to the couple.
Still, the footage has reignited public scrutiny of their relationship, which has long been the subject of fascination in France and beyond.
Brigitte, who is 25 years older than Macron, was his drama teacher during his teenage years—a fact often highlighted by critics and commentators.
While government sources insist the moment was playful, some critics have questioned whether the incident points to deeper tensions in the high-profile marriage.
