Macron's Wife Brigitte Macron Sparks Buzz With Surprising New Move—Here’s What Happened

French First Lady Brigitte Macron is once again at the center of online buzz after a short clip appeared to show her pushing President Emmanuel Macron’s face as the couple disembarked from their plane in Hanoi late Sunday night, May 25 (local time). Within hours, the 24-second video racked up millions of views on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Instagram under hashtags such as #BrigitteMacron, #MacronInVietnam and #PresidentialPush. A playful “spat,” says the Élysée Speaking to reporters on Monday, President Macron dismissed talk of tension, describing the moment as “bickering, rather, joking around—something we often do,” and urging journalists to “move on to more important topics.” The Élysée Palace echoed his remarks, calling the gesture “light-hearted” and “taken out of context”. What the viral video shows • The presidential Airbus touches down in Hanoi. • As the cabin door opens, Brigitte Macron exits first, wearing a bright red blazer. • Turning back toward her husband, she places one hand briefly over his mouth and appears to nudge him away from the door before both continue down the stairs smiling. Observers online speculated she was reminding him of protocol—allowing security staff to clear the staircase—or teasing him for stepping on her heel. Social-media reaction Digital sleuths quickly turned the clip into memes comparing the Macrons to famous comedic couples, while critics suggested it revealed behind-the-scenes marital strain. By Monday afternoon, French-language searches for “femme de Macron” and English queries for “Macron’s wife push” topped real-time search charts worldwide. The viral nature of the footage mirrors previous moments—such as their spontaneous kiss during the 2022 Bastille Day celebrations—that have fed both admiration and scrutiny of the presidential pair’s private dynamic. Why the Macrons are in Vietnam The French president is on a three-day state visit aimed at deepening defense and semiconductor partnerships amid intensifying competition in the Indo-Pacific. He is scheduled to meet Vietnamese President Tô Lâm and attend a business forum focused on green technology. Brigitte Macron’s agenda includes cultural events spotlighting Francophone education and a visit to a Franco-Vietnamese lycée. Long-standing public fascination Interest in France’s first lady extends beyond this week’s trip. Brigitte Macron, 71, was Emmanuel Macron’s high-school drama teacher when they met in Amiens; the couple married in 2007, making their 24-year age gap a continual media talking point. Over the past year she has spearheaded campaigns against school bullying, lobbied for autism awareness and hosted spouses of foreign leaders at the Paris Olympic countdown gala. Political undertones While many viewers shrugged off the “push” as harmless play, opposition politicians seized the moment. Marine Le Pen retweeted the video with a cryptic “Tout est dit” (“That says it all”), while left-wing firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused the presidency of staging a distraction from domestic pension protests. Analysts on France 24 noted that minor gaffes can become “macro-dramas” in France’s hyper-charged political climate. Expert view on public image “Brigitte Macron has cultivated an approachable yet sophisticated persona. Moments like this reinforce her relatability,” said Émilie Roche, a sociologist at Sciences Po specializing in political communication. “But they also invite misogynistic commentary online, illustrating the double standard first ladies still face.” What happens next • Tuesday: joint wreath-laying ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. • Wednesday: state dinner at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, where observers will watch the couple’s body language for any repeat of Sunday’s antics. • Upon return to Paris, Brigitte Macron resumes preparations for the July opening of the Olympic Village, where she will host international dignitaries. Bottom line The 24-second “push” may have been a fleeting joke between spouses, but it underscores how every gesture of France’s most high-profile couple becomes a talking point in an era of instantaneous, global social-media scrutiny. Whether the clip ultimately boosts the Macrons’ relatability or fuels fresh criticism, one thing is clear: Brigitte Macron remains one of Europe’s most watched—and searched—public figures.