Macron and Wife Play Fight on Vietnam Visit Caught on Video

A viral video showing French President Emmanuel Macron being seemingly pushed away by his wife, Brigitte Macron, as they disembarked from a plane in Vietnam sparked widespread speculation and media commentary. The footage captured Brigitte making an abrupt gesture towards Emmanuel's face, followed by Macron offering his arm to her, which she declined, leading to discussions about the couple's relationship dynamics, given their 24-year age difference and unconventional history. Macron dismissed the incident as playful joking and criticized the overblown reactions, framing it as a moment of lightheartedness before their official Southeast Asia tour, while also warning against misinformation spread on social media. French media and commentators debated whether the gesture was a slap or a squabble, with some noting the unusual power dynamic in their marriage that began when he was her student. The incident prompted reflections on public perceptions of relationships with significant age gaps and the gendered double standards that accompany them. Overall, the Macrons portrayed the encounter as a benign moment of complicity rather than conflict.