In an extraordinary incident captured on camera, Brigitte Macron, the French First Lady, was observed pushing President Emmanuel Macron in the face and subsequently muttering a disparaging remark during their arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam. This unexpected altercation took place on Sunday evening and has since sparked international attention.
As the presidential aircraft's door opened, President Macron turned to face his wife, which is when the physical shove occurred, according to the professional lip reader hired by The Express. The 72-year-old First Lady placed both hands on her 47-year-old husband's face and delivered a firm push, leaving the French leader visibly shaken. Cameras rolling for the couple's official arrival caught the shocking moment, with President Macron quickly attempting to restore his poise before the media.
Following the push, the President greeted the waiting cameras with a "Hi" and a raised hand, while the lip reader reported that Brigitte Macron ignored her husband's offer of assistance down the aircraft stairs, instead choosing to hold the railing. As she passed by him, she reportedly muttered, "Dégage, espèce de loser," which translates from French to "Stay away, you loser." President Macron's plea of "Essayons, s'il te plaît," meaning "Let's try, please," was met with a succinct "Non," or "No," from his wife.
The expert analysis described the exchange as a "rare unguarded exchange that hints at deeper tensions between the couple." This comes at a time when the French President's diplomatic schedule is increasingly busy. The incident concluded with the couple maintaining a distance from each other as they greeted Vietnamese officials.
Initially, the French president's office disputed the authenticity of the viral footage, but later confirmed its genuineness. President Macron has since attempted to downplay the event, describing it to the New York Post as "squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife." He criticized those amplifying the story and urged everyone to "calm down."
The Macrons' relationship has been subject to public scrutiny since their marriage in 2007, as they met when Brigitte was a high school teacher and Emmanuel her 15-year-old student. The recent incident has reignited discussions about their private life, especially given the public nature of the altercation.
