French president Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigette appears to slap him in the face seconds before the couple arrive in front of the cameras on an official trip to Vietnam
Shocking new footage shows the moment Emmanuel Macron’s wife appears to slap him during a heated argument on an official tour.
In footage taken yesterday evening at Hanoi airport, Macron’s profile can be seen through the door of his official plane. Seconds later, his wife Brigette quickly raises a hand to his face, and appears to strike him. The French president looks surprised and turns to wave outside, before the couple begin to walk down the staircase. Emmanuel Macron then attempts to hold her hand, but she chooses not to take it, and instead holds onto the handrail of the walkway.
A source close to Macron speaking to French news channel BFMTV dismissed the incident as simply a married couple “bickering.”
They added: “It was a moment for the President and his wife to unwind one last time before the start of the trip by having a little fun.”
The couple arrived in Hanoi on Sunday evening for a week-long tour of Southeast Asia, which will include stops in Indonesia and Singapore.
Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet with his Vietnamese president Luong Cuong and Communist Party Secretary-General To Lam today.
In a post on social media after landing, he wrote: “The major challenges of the century… can only be met in cooperation with our partners.
“I’ve come here to strengthen our ties in key areas: defence, innovation, energy transition and cultural exchanges. Everywhere I go, I’ll be saying one simple thing: France is a power of peace and balance.”
The French president will also make a state visit to the United Kingdom in July.
Macron will stay at Windsor Castle for the visit, which will take place from July 8 to July 10, Buckingham Palace confirmed earlier this month.
The dates mean that Macron is expected to beat Donald Trump to London.
An invitation was extended to the White House for an unprecedented second state visit to Britain back in February, but a date hasn’t yet been set.
King Charles travelled to France with Queen Camilla in September 2023, and became the first British monarch ever to address the French Senate.