Macron Says Viral Face Push Was Just ‘Horseplay’ with First Lady/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ French President Emmanuel Macron says his wife’s playful push on the plane was “just joking.” The viral video triggered media speculation and public commentary across France. Macron downplayed the moment, calling it a “decompression” before their Southeast Asia tour.
Macron Push Video Quick Looks
- Incident Location: Hanoi, Vietnam — upon disembarking their plane
- What Happened: Brigitte Macron playfully pushed her husband’s face, caught on camera
- Public Reaction: French media buzzed with headlines about the incident
- Macron’s Response: “We are horsing around,” he told reporters
- Presidency’s Statement: Called it a moment of “complicity” before the official tour began
- Relationship Backstory: Emmanuel and Brigitte met when he was her high school student
Deep Look: Macron’s Face Push Sparks Media Buzz, But President Laughs It Off
A moment of light-hearted physical contact between French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron exploded into a viral media story this weekend after video captured what appeared to be her pushing him away — with both hands on his face — as they arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Moment Caught on Camera
As the presidential plane’s door opened on Sunday, Macron stood inside in a suit, speaking with someone off-screen. Suddenly, two arms in red sleeves (Brigitte’s) reached out. One hand covered Macron’s mouth and part of his nose, while the other cupped his jaw — a clear and unexpected push that caused him to recoil. Realizing he was in full view of cameras, Macron quickly smiled and gave a wave.
Soon after, the couple descended the aircraft steps. Macron offered his arm; Brigitte declined. They walked down side by side, seemingly composed but triggering speculation online and in national headlines.
Macron: “It Was Horsing Around”
Speaking to reporters after the moment sparked commentary back in France, Macron dismissed the interaction as harmless fun.
“We are horsing around and, really, joking with my wife,” he said. “It becomes a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe.”
His office reiterated that the gesture was a playful moment — nothing more — describing it as “a moment of complicity” and warning that conspiracy theories were already swirling.
The president and his wife, married since 2007, have long been in the spotlight for their unconventional love story.
Their Unusual Love Story
Brigitte Macron, then Brigitte Auzière, was Emmanuel’s high school drama teacher in Amiens when the two first met. She was 24 years his senior and a married mother of three. Despite the age gap and societal scrutiny, Macron, who was just a teenager at the time, famously told her:
“Whatever you do, I will marry you.”
He moved to Paris to finish high school, and years later, Brigitte divorced her husband and joined him. They married in 2007, and since Macron’s rise to the presidency, their relationship has remained a point of fascination and admiration — and, at times, tabloid intrigue.
Social Media Reacts
The video instantly circulated on French Twitter and TikTok, with users debating whether the gesture was playful, awkward, or a sign of marital tension. Headlines in Le Parisien and Le Monde asked, “Slap or squabble?” and commentators flooded platforms with gifs and memes.
But Macron’s calm response — and a history of showing affection in public — suggests the moment was simply caught out of context.
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