Brigitte Macron Playfully Pushes Husband Emmanuel Off Plane in Vietnam – French President Says, ‘We Were Just Joking’

A lighthearted moment between France’s President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron sparked a media buzz this weekend as the couple touched down in Vietnam. But according to the president, what looked like an awkward exchange was nothing more than playful teasing between longtime partners.

The Viral Moment

As the Macrons arrived in Hanoi on Sunday to kick off a Southeast Asia tour, cameras caught a surprising interaction just as the plane door opened. Brigitte, dressed in a red jacket, was seen reaching out with both hands—one covering her husband’s mouth and nose, the other on his jaw—and gently pushing him back.

Emmanuel Macron recoiled, turned his head, and then, realizing he was being filmed, broke into a smile and gave a quick wave. Moments later, the couple appeared at the top of the aircraft stairs. Macron offered his arm, but Brigitte didn’t take it. They descended side by side.

French Media Jump In

The brief clip quickly made the rounds in French media. Headlines speculated on the nature of the exchange, with Le Parisien asking: “Slap or squabble?” Social media lit up with theories and commentary.

But Macron was quick to shut down the chatter. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he explained, “We were squabbling and joking around. It’s being turned into a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe.”

A Lesson in Social Media Frenzy?

The president took the moment to warn about how easily disinformation can spread in today’s digital age. He noted that recent weeks have seen a spike in edited or misleading videos involving him.

“Everyone needs to calm down,” Macron said.

His office echoed the sentiment, stating the couple had been “decompressing” before the start of their official visit. “It was just a moment of complicity—playful horsing around. But of course, it gave conspiracy theorists all the fuel they needed,” the statement read.

A Love Story with a Past

The couple’s bond has long intrigued the public. Emmanuel met Brigitte Auzière—then a teacher and married mother of three—at his high school, where she ran the drama club. He was 15. Despite the age gap and complex beginnings, the pair stayed connected. He later moved to Paris for school, promising to marry her. She eventually joined him there, divorced, and the two wed in 2007.

So, was it a slap, a squabble, or just a joke between two people who know each other very well? According to Macron: definitely the last one.