French President Macron arrives in Vietnam amid brief incident before deplaning

French President Macron arrives in Vietnam amid brief incident before deplaning

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Vietnam on May 26, 2025, amid a brief incident involving his wife, Brigitte Macron, as they disembarked from the presidential plane in Hanoi. The incident, captured on video, has sparked speculation and disinformation online.

According to reports, Brigitte Macron appeared to push her husband's face away as they exited the plane. Macron addressed the incident in a press conference, stating that the video was genuine but that it had been weaponized and misinterpreted. He described the moment as playful teasing and dismissed the idea that it was an argument or a sign of trouble in their marriage [1].

The Élysée Palace initially denied the incident but later played it down, stating that it was a moment of togetherness and relaxation before the trip began. The couple has been married since 2007 [2].

Macron's visit to Vietnam comes as part of a broader effort to strengthen France's influence in Southeast Asia and boost its trade relations. The trip coincides with a push by the European Union to strengthen its commercial ties with Asia, particularly in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariff measures [3].

Macron's visit to Vietnam is significant as it marks the first formal visit by a French president to the country in nearly a decade. The visit is expected to focus on key areas such as defense, innovation, energy transition, and cultural exchanges.

References:
[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/macron-office-dismisses-viral-video-100648436.html
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L2N3RY06X:0-elysee-plays-down-apparent-shove-on-macron-from-wife-in-vietnam/
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/frances-emmanuel-macron-visits-vietnam-to-offer-third-way-between-us-china/photostory/121404987.cms