French President Emmanuel Macron’s office has downplayed an incident that occurred as he and his wife, Brigitte, arrived in Vietnam for their Southeast Asia tour. A video captured a moment where Ms. Macron appeared to push her husband gently, prompting him to step back briefly before regaining his composure to wave at the cameras positioned at the top of the aircraft stairs.
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In the footage, she remains somewhat obscured behind the plane’s fuselage, making it difficult to interpret her body language. As the couple descended the steps together, Ms. Macron chose not to take her husband’s arm, perhaps emphasizing their individuality within their partnership.
“This is not the first time in recent weeks that the content of videos featuring me has been misrepresented by what I call ‘crackpots’,” said Mr. Macron. He referenced a separate instance involving a video shared on social media, which showed him removing a crumpled object from a table during a train visit in Ukraine. Some users suggested, without any substantiated evidence, that the object was a bag of cocaine; Mr. Macron clarified that it was simply a tissue.
His office accused foreign adversaries of spreading misinformation, saying, “It was merely a tissue—a classic case of faux news.” An Elysee official also addressed the Vietnam incident, stating, “What we witnessed was not an argument, but rather a moment of relaxation where the president and his wife shared a laugh together.” The official added, “It was a moment of closeness.”
Mr. Macron’s visit marks the first time in nearly a decade that a French president has visited Vietnam, as he aims to strengthen France’s influence in its former colony. This visit comes amid complex trade discussions; Vietnam, with its export-driven economy, is negotiating concessions with the U.S. to stave off potential tariffs that could reach 46%.
Meanwhile, the European Union expresses concerns that Vietnam’s pursuits of U.S. goods could come at Europe’s expense. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to impose a 50% tariff on EU imports but later eased his position, reviving a deadline for talks slated for July 9.
“Strategic partnerships are essential in navigating the complexities of international trade,” Mr. Macron seems to imply, as he seeks to enhance cooperation with both Vietnam and the U.S.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
