Overview

• On May 25, a video from Hanoi captured Brigitte Macron slapping President Emmanuel Macron as they disembarked the presidential jet.
• The Élysée initially rejected the footage as AI-generated pro-Russian disinformation but later acknowledged its authenticity as a lighthearted 'moment of complicity.'
• The couple presented a united front during Macron’s Southeast Asia trip with a joint appearance in Jakarta on May 29.
• During a June 2 reception at the Élysée, Macron invited Brigitte to stand beside him as they celebrated Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League win.
• Former President Donald Trump joked that Macron should 'make sure the door remains closed' after the viral altercation.