French President Blames ‘The Russians’ For Rumors Over Video Of First Lady’s Face-Shove

French President Emmanuel Macron denied Monday that he and his wife, Brigitte, were in a domestic dispute that was caught on camera and blamed “the Russians” for the rumors circulating over the video. 

The incident happened just after the Macrons touched down for a visit to Vietnam, which the French leader hoped would showcase France’s reach into the Indo-Pacific. The now-viral video, shot by the Associated Press, overshadowed their visit and appears to show the first lady shoving her fingernails into the president’s face. After collecting himself, Macron turns to wave through the open door of the plane before descending the stairs with his wife. 

President Macron claims he and the First Lady were “joking,” France 24 reported, and that he was “taken by surprise.” Macron then blamed “the Russians” for manipulating networks to prop up these rumors. He referred to the virality of the clip as a “planetary catastrophe,” but said that people are blowing the incident out of proportion. 

The incident comes after Macron shot down a rumor pushed by a Russian official that he was doing cocaine on a trip to Kyiv with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs,” the Elysee stated. “This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation.”

When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.

This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation. pic.twitter.com/xyXhGm9Dsr

— Élysée (@Elysee) May 11, 2025

Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who pushed the cocaine allegations, said that Macron’s advisors would attempt to claim that Russia was behind the “right hook from his wife.”

“Maybe it was the ‘hand of the Kremlin?’” Zakharova said sarcastically, French 24 reported. 

The age-gap marriage between Macron, 47, and his wife, 72, has long been under scrutiny, leading to many rumors of the couple’s alleged rocky relationship as well as claims that the first lady is actually a man. Brigitte Macron has taken legal action to counter these rumors and has been awarded damages from people spreading the claims that she is transgender.