Former U.S. President Donald Trump has shared his thoughts on a viral video featuring French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, which has sparked widespread speculation online.
The footage, captured on Sunday (May 25) as the French presidential couple arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, appears to show Brigitte placing her hands on her husband’s face in what some interpreted as a slap or shove. Macron, seemingly caught off guard, reacts with visible surprise.
As the pair descended the aircraft stairs, President Macron, 47, appeared to offer his arm to Brigitte, 72, who seemed to decline the gesture. A lip reader later claimed the exchange between the two was tense, suggesting a frosty interaction.
In response to the growing speculation, the Élysée Palace issued a statement downplaying the incident, describing it as a “moment of closeness” between the couple. “They were simply sharing a laugh before the start of the official visit,” the statement read.
President Macron later addressed the situation himself, telling reporters that the interaction had been playful. “We were just joking,” he said.
Rubbishing claims that it was a ‘domestic incident’, he said: “My wife and I were squabbling, we were rather joking, and I was taken by surprise.
“[It has since] become a kind of planetary catastrophe, and some [people] are even coming up with theories.”
In addition to the internet weighing in, US President Donald Trump has also shared his thoughts on the situation.
Speaking at a press conference at the Oval Office to discuss Elon Musk’s departure from DOGE, Trump was asked whether he had any ‘world leader to world leader marital advice’ for Macron.
“Make sure the door remains closed,” Trump said. He then continued to address it a bit more seriously, claiming that he’d spoken to Macron after the fact.
Donald Trump had some advice (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
“That was not good. I spoke to him and he’s fine – they’re fine. Two really good people, I know them very well. I don’t know what ‘that’ was all about, but I know it very well that they’re fine.” he continued.
Trump wasn’t the only one to reference the video at this press conference, as Musk seemingly took a jab at the incident when asked about his ‘black eye’.
When asked if his eye was ‘ok’, he responded: “I wasn’t anywhere near France.”
He then clarified that the real reason was that he’d been ‘horsing around’ with his son, X Æ A-12, and had sustained the bruise after he asked X to ‘punch him in the face’.
