French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron presented a united and affectionate front during their visit to Indonesia, putting to rest recent rumors of marital discord sparked by a viral video from Vietnam.
The presidential couple arrived Tuesday evening at Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport as part of their Southeast Asia tour. Their official plane landed around 9:50 p.m. (local time), where Indonesia’s Defense Minister greeted them.
According to footage from the Associated Press, as the plane door opened, President Macron extended his right arm inward to escort the First Lady. Brigitte linked arms with her husband naturally, and the couple descended the stairs slowly, smiling at Indonesian officials and members of the press.
A Clear Contrast to Viral Vietnam Footage
The following day in Indonesia, the Macrons were seen sharing a tender moment when Brigitte kissed the president on the cheek, reinforcing their closeness.
This warm interaction sharply contrasted with a video from Hanoi’s airport two days earlier, where Brigitte appeared to push Macron’s face as they exited their plane. While the president looked briefly surprised, he quickly composed himself and waved to reporters. Brigitte notably declined to link arms with him as they walked down the stairs.
The Vietnam video quickly spread across social media, fueling speculation ranging from a simple marital disagreement to baseless claims of domestic abuse.
French Presidency Responds to Rumors
The Élysée Palace moved quickly to quell the rumors, describing the incident as a playful moment between the couple meant to ease tension before official events.
French daily Le Figaro remarked that although the footage showed the couple’s intimacy, it also became easy fodder for conspiracy theorists.
On Monday, speaking in Hanoi, President Macron addressed the situation directly, telling reporters it was just a joke between him and his wife, according to Le Parisien.
The Macrons’ relationship has been widely discussed, particularly because of their 25-year age difference. Their story began when Emmanuel Macron was a 15-year-old student and Brigitte was his teacher at a private school in Amiens, France. After years of persistent courtship following his coming of age, they married in 2007.
Comments0