French President Dismisses Face Push as Playful Moment with Wife Amid Media Storm

French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed the uproar surrounding a viral video showing his wife, Brigitte Macron, pushing his face as they arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, calling the moment a playful exchange between the couple amid a media storm.

The incident occurred on May 25, 2025, as the Macrons landed in Hanoi to begin a tour of Southeast Asia. Video footage captured Brigitte Macron, dressed in red, reaching out from the doorway of the presidential plane and placing both hands on her husband’s face, giving it a noticeable shove. President Macron appeared briefly startled before quickly regaining his composure, smiling, and waving to those outside the aircraft. The couple then descended the stairs together, with Brigitte notably declining her husband’s offered arm.

The footage rapidly spread online, fueling speculation and debate in France and beyond. Some social media users and commentators questioned the nature of the gesture, while others interpreted it as a lighthearted moment. The French media widely covered the story, with headlines pondering whether it was a “slap” or simply a “squabble”.

Addressing reporters, Macron insisted that the incident was being blown out of proportion: “We are teasing and having fun with my wife, and a video turns into a sort of global disaster,” he said. “Everyone needs to calm down.” Macron further described the exchange as playful, stating, “We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife,” and dismissed any suggestion of a serious disagreement as “absurd”.

The Élysée Palace echoed the president’s remarks, describing the moment as a private instance of “decompressing one last time before the start of the trip by horsing around” and a “moment of complicity” between the couple. Officials noted that the incident was quickly seized upon by critics and conspiracy theorists who are habitually hostile to the French leader.

Despite the viral attention, the Macrons continued their official engagements in Vietnam as planned, with the president focusing on diplomatic meetings and efforts to strengthen France’s presence in Southeast Asia. The couple, married since 2007, appeared together at all subsequent events, signaling that the incident had no impact on their public duties.