A brief exchange between French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron sparked a wave of online speculation during their arrival in Vietnam on May 25, 2025. As the couple stood at the top of the plane stairs in Hanoi, Brigitte playfully pressed her hands into her husband’s face. The AP-captured footage shows Macron stepping back with a smile before continuing to wave to onlookers.

Though seemingly lighthearted, the video quickly went viral. Social media users and several media outlets offered a range of interpretations—from affectionate teasing to signs of marital discord. The moment gained further traction as Russian state media and far-right French commentators amplified it, portraying the interaction as evidence of domestic tension within the presidential couple.

President Macron addressed the incident directly, downplaying the controversy and clarifying the nature of their relationship. “We are bickering and joking with my wife, and a video becomes a sort of geoplanetary catastrophe,” he told reporters. He also criticized how online content can be manipulated or taken out of context, referencing previous instances where video clips of him were used to mislead or misinform.

The Élysée Palace backed Macron’s remarks, characterizing the moment as private and spontaneous. Officials described it as a moment of “decompression” and “horsing around” between the President and the First Lady—typical of their personal dynamic before the start of official engagements.

The incident marked the start of Macron’s Southeast Asia tour, which includes stops in Indonesia and Singapore. The diplomatic visit aims to bolster France’s strategic presence in the region, particularly as Vietnam balances its economic partnerships with the U.S. and European Union amid evolving trade and political dynamics.