French President Emmanuel Macron’s arrival in Vietnam for the start of a Southeast Asia tour drew online attention after a brief moment between him and his wife, Brigitte Macron, was captured on video and quickly circulated on social media. As the presidential plane arrived at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport on the evening of 25 May 2025, footage from the Associated Press showed Brigitte appearing to place her hands on Macron’s face and push it away as he stepped into view from the aircraft doorway. The moment, captured by the Associated Press, showed Macron momentarily startled before regaining composure and waving to officials.
Brigitte Macron remained out of full view, concealed by the doorway, but her decision not to take the president’s arm as they descended the stairs for the official welcome by Vietnamese dignitaries, also drew widespread online attention and speculation. Critics of the French leader were quick to circulate and comment on the clip, many interpreting the moment negatively.
The Élysée initially denied the authenticity of the clip, but after it was confirmed, officials worked to downplay the incident. An unnamed source close to the president described it as a harmless “squabble” between the couple, while another characterised it as light-hearted “decompression” before a demanding diplomatic tour. “It was a moment of togetherness,” the source said, blaming conspiracy theorists and anti-Macron accounts—particularly those with pro-Russian leanings—for amplifying the moment out of proportion.
Macron’s stop in Vietnam marks the beginning of a nearly week-long visit to Southeast Asia, where he is positioning France as a reliable and independent partner in a region increasingly shaped by competition between the United States and China. The French president will also travel to Indonesia and Singapore as part of the tour.
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With information from: Le Monde
