Wife of French President appears to playfully tease husband upon their arrival in Vietnam, allegedly according to him.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, a video emerged on Sunday showing French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, in an unexpected interaction. As they disembarked from their plane, Brigitte appeared to push her husband forcefully on the face with both hands.
The footage instantly sparked speculation in France, with media outlets trying to decipher the true nature of the interaction. The daily Le Parisien newspaper even asked, "Slap or 'squabble?'" in a headline, alluding to the confusion surrounding the incident.
However, President Macron later clarified that the couple, who have been married since 2007, were merely joking around. "We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife," Macron explained to reporters. He further emphasized that the incident had been overblown, comparing the response to a "sort of geo-planetary catastrophe."
The Associated Press captured the moment on video as the Macrons arrived in Hanoi. In the footage, a uniformed staff member opens the plane door, revealing President Macron inside, dressed in a suit and engaging in conversation with someone off-camera. As the door opens, Brigitte's arms reach out, apparently pushing her husband away. Her hand covers his mouth and part of his nose while the other is on his jaw, causing him to recoil slightly.
Despite the physical nature of the gesture, President Macron's office has downplayed the incident, describing it as a lighthearted, private moment before the start of their official tour. They contend that the video may have been taken out of context, with some suggesting that the reaction stems from disinformation, particularly from pro-Russian accounts.
Brigitte Macron, originally Brigitte Auzière, was a married mother of three when she met Emmanuel at his high school. She was his drama club supervisor, and he later promised to marry her after moving to Paris for his final year of high school. She eventually divorced and joined him in the capital before the couple wed.
Despite this heated incident, it is important to note that both the President and his close associates have denied it was anything more than playful or joking behavior, and they have rejected interpretations describing it as a genuine fight or serious disagreement. The incident appeared to be a brief, private moment caught on camera, but not indicative of a real dispute.
In other news, President Macron has received praise for his diplomatic efforts with Russia, though questions remain about whether Russian President Putin is playing him. Additionally, Macron himself has attributed his COVID-19 infection to negligence and bad luck.
California residents express concern through social media as entertainment events continue to be postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks, while French President Emmanuel Macron's unexpected interaction with his wife, Brigitte, during their visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, sparks global curiosity, with many on social media debating whether it was a slap or a playful squabble, as reported by French and international media outlets.
