French President Emmanuel Macron had his face shoved by his wife Brigitte as they disembarked from their plane in Vietnam. The video shows Brigitte pushing Macron’s face to turn him toward the plane’s exit during what officials described as a playful moment. How come Emmanuel looked at the reporters in embarrassment?
The Presidential Push Seen Around the World
French President Emmanuel Macron found himself in an awkward spotlight when video emerged showing his wife Brigitte shoving his face as they exited their aircraft upon arrival in Vietnam. The brief but unmistakable moment was captured by cameras and quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing significant attention to what would otherwise have been a routine diplomatic arrival.
Macron’s office initially attempted to downplay the incident, later confirming it was genuine but describing it as merely a “moment when the president and his wife were relaxing one last time before the start of the trip by having a laugh.” An Elysee official further characterized the exchange as “a moment of closeness,” while Macron himself dismissed it, saying, “I was bickering, or rather joking, with my wife. It’s nothing.”
Emmanuel Macron' "wife" keeps his pimp hand strong.
How humiliating. pic.twitter.com/I9PuCd3Ziv
— Brenden Dilley (@WarlordDilley) May 26, 2025
Diplomatic Mission Overshadowed
The viral moment threatened to overshadow the important diplomatic purpose of Macron’s visit to Vietnam, the first by a French president in nearly a decade. The trip was strategically significant as France sought to strengthen its influence in its former colony and position itself as an alternative partner to both the United States and China in the region.
During his visit, Macron signed numerous agreements on defense, nuclear power, and trade, including a notable deal between VietJet and Airbus for 20 A330-900 planes. The agreements, collectively worth over $10 billion, came at a particularly important time as Macron has been navigating complicated diplomatic waters, including responding to President Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on European Union goods.
People will get lots of jokes off about Macron getting slapped by his wife but real talk: If you’re in a relationship where someone puts hands on you, LEAVE. It’s not normal and there’s no excuse for it. People who love and respect you don’t hit you.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 26, 2025
Broader Diplomatic Challenges
The uncomfortable marital moment comes as Macron faces significant challenges on the international stage, including his controversial stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Along with leaders from the UK and Canada, Macron has called for Israel to cease military operations in Gaza and has advocated for a two-state solution, positioning himself in opposition to certain U.S. policies.
Macron’s diplomatic approach has drawn criticism not only internationally but also domestically, with French billionaire Bernard Arnault publicly rebuking the president for suggesting European businesses halt investments in America until trade issues were resolved. Arnault stated bluntly, “I think it’s very bad for the state to meddle in the management of private companies. It usually leads to disaster.”
The Vietnam visit represents part of France’s broader “sovereignty partnership” strategy central to its Indo-Pacific policy, with France supporting Vietnam in transitioning away from coal toward renewable energy and civil nuclear power. Vietnam has granted France its highest diplomatic status, a comprehensive strategic partnership also shared with major powers including Russia, China, and the United States.