Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, captured global attention during their official visit to Vietnam. As they prepared to disembark from their plane at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport on Sunday evening, cameras caught Brigitte placing her hands playfully against Macron’s face – in what some interpret as an act of playful aggression or even slapping – prompting global outrage and overshadowing diplomatic objectives of Macron’s Southeast Asia tour. The Times of India +3 | @EconomicTimes +3 President Macron can be seen engaging in what appears to be a light-hearted exchange with Brigitte Macron at the doorway of their aircraft, before she abruptly touches him with both hands, prompting an unexpectedly shocked response from him. Once realizing he’d been caught on camera and cameras were rolling, Macron quickly recovered his composure, waved to waiting officials and media before leading her down stairs together before departing in tandem. mes @EconomicTimes @ The Sun @ El Pais @GB News@ Israel Hayom Initial reaction from Elysee Palace suggested the video could have been faked, with French media outlets and the Associated Press later validating its authenticity. A source close to President Macron described their interaction as harmless bickering that led to “a moment of complicity”, emphasizing it was between couple. El Pais +3 The Sun +3 The Times. President Macron quickly addressed the incident as light-hearted horseplay rather than any actual physical contact, calling out media coverage as being unnecessary and criticizing those who misrepresented this lighthearted interaction as being serious or violent. [@EconomicTimes ] Despite official explanations, this video has gone viral across social media platforms with various interpretations and memes emerging based on this incident. Some commentators saw it as a sign of marital discord; others saw it as an endearing moment between them. Conspiracy theorists and critics have also taken notice, heightening scrutiny surrounding Macron who has previously been subject to unfounded claims and misinformation campaigns. @EconomicTimes (+1 for you on twitter). The Macrons’ relationship has long been the subject of public scrutiny, due in part to its unconventional beginnings. When Emmanuel met Brigitte – his former high school drama teacher at age 15 and she 40 – they married shortly thereafter and became stepfather and step-grandfather respectively for Brigitte’s three children and her seven grandchildren. Primari This article first appeared in The Economic Times President Macron made his maiden trip to Vietnam since taking office, as part of an official diplomatic tour through Southeast Asia that also includes Indonesia and Singapore. The aim is to strengthen France’s strategic partnerships in Southeast Asia through discussions centered around defense cooperation, trade agreements, cultural exchanges, etc. According to The Times. Officials hope that attention will soon shift back onto the substantive results of President Macron’s diplomatic engagements in Southeast Asia, according to The Standard (pg. 7). For now, this playful moment between Macrons has garnered much media coverage; they hope it can soon return on this real agenda item of addressing it with real results – as reported by The Times of India +2 and AP News (+2). +2 (+1 for each substinance item).
