Macron dismisses viral Hanoi video as a joke amid disinformation surge

French President Emmanuel Macron has denied rumors of a domestic dispute with his wife Brigitte after a video surfaced showing her shoving his face upon arrival in Vietnam. Macron attributed the buzz to disinformation campaigns, warning against false interpretations of the clip.

The Elysee Palace initially hoped the Vietnam visit would highlight France's strategic role in the Indo-Pacific, but the couple's arrival in Hanoi on Sunday quickly stole the spotlight. As the doors of the presidential plane opened, Brigitte extended both hands and pushed her husband's face in a moment captured by the Associated Press.

The president appeared startled but turned to wave through the open door. Most of Brigitte’s body was hidden by the aircraft, making her expression unreadable.

“My wife and I were squabbling, we were rather joking, and I was taken by surprise,” Macron told reporters. “Now it's become a kind of planetary catastrophe, and some are even coming up with theories.”

This marks the third instance this month in which Macron has been featured in viral videos at a time when France accuses foreign actors of amplifying disinformation, particularly as Russia steps up its assault on Ukraine.

He referred to other recent clips circulating online. One showed him on a train to Kyiv, where some falsely claimed he was taking cocaine alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Another featured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holding Macron’s finger during a handshake, which some online users interpreted as a show of dominance.

“None of these are true,” Macron said of the videos. “Everyone needs to calm down,” he added.

The French president said the object he was seen removing from the table on the Kyiv trip was simply a tissue. As for the handshake with Erdogan, Macron reiterated it had been misrepresented.

After the Hanoi incident, Macron and Brigitte descended the staircase to meet Vietnamese officials. She did not take his arm when offered. The video, already gaining traction online, was heavily promoted by social media accounts critical of Macron.

The Elysee at first questioned the video’s authenticity, citing the possibility of artificial intelligence manipulation. However, the footage was later confirmed to be real.

“In these three videos I took a tissue, shook someone's hand and just joked with my wife, as we do quite often. Nothing more,” Macron said.

He blamed the misleading narratives on “networks that are quite well-traceable”, accusing “the Russians” and “the extremists in France.”

He acknowledged that while all three videos were “completely authentic,” the meanings attached to them were false.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who previously pushed the cocaine narrative, responded sarcastically on Telegram, saying Macron had received “a right hook from his wife.” She added, “Maybe it was the 'hand of the Kremlin'?”

Vietnam is Macron’s first stop on a Southeast Asia tour where he aims to position France as a stable alternative to powers like the United States and China. His itinerary also includes Indonesia and Singapore.

Macron’s relationship with Brigitte has long drawn attention. The two met in Amiens when he was a student and she a drama teacher at a private school. She later divorced and began a relationship with him while he was still in his late teens.

As First Lady, Brigitte Macron has frequently been the subject of online misinformation herself, including false claims about her gender, which prompted her to take legal action.

Despite the swirling online commentary, Macron appears determined to keep his focus on diplomacy and security in the Indo-Pacific, even as digital misinformation continues to chase his public appearances.