Macron's Wife Appears to Slap Him: Viral Video Sparks Debate, Official Clarification Follows

French President Macron's Wife Appears to Slap Him in Viral Video; Source Says It Was a Minor Disagreement HANOI, VIETNAM—A brief video clip showing an interaction between French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, has gone viral, sparking considerable online debate. The video, which appears to depict Brigitte Macron striking her husband in the face, was filmed upon their arrival in Vietnam on May 26, 2025. The incident immediately generated a wave of speculation and commentary on social media. However, a source close to President Macron has since provided a different perspective. The source described the incident as "a simple argument between the couple," emphasizing that it was not a serious conflict. President Macron himself later addressed the situation, stating, "If you look at my presidential agenda for the past three weeks, you'll see that a video clip has spread showing me picking up a handkerchief, then shaking someone's hand, and then joking with my wife as we always do. People need to calm down before judging things." This statement effectively downplays the incident and offers a more nuanced understanding of the situation. The rapid dissemination of the video, and the subsequent clarification, highlights the challenges of interpreting short video clips without full context. The incident also underscores the power of social media in shaping public perception, even of major political figures.