A video surfaced on Monday depicting French President Emmanuel Macron being struck in the face by his wife, Brigitte Macron, as they arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam. The footage ignited discussions about gender, power dynamics, and the public perception of potential domestic violence against men.
Palace Plays Down Incident
In the footage, Brigitte Macron makes contact with the President’s jaw in what some describe as a slap. Moments later, President Macron appears to pause at the aircraft door, extending his arm as if expecting her to take it — but she walks past without acknowledging the gesture.
The couple deplaned without holding hands. Despite the visual clarity of the video, the Élysée Palace quickly moved to minimize the incident.
“It was a moment of closeness,” an official from the French presidency claimed.
According to the President’s communications, the interaction was merely “playful.”
Domestic Violence Narrative Ignored?
Critics point out the double standard often applied to public acts of physical aggression when the roles reverse. A male politician seen striking his wife would likely face immediate public condemnation and calls for accountability, yet this incident quickly received a dismissive response, labelled as harmless or even affectionate.
The issue reveals a broader societal pattern where people often trivialise or find humour in domestic violence against men, especially when a woman is the alleged perpetrator and the victim holds a high status.
Advocates for gender equality and men’s rights have questioned whether the Élysée’s framing of the incident as a “moment of closeness” reflects a bias that overlooks the seriousness of interpersonal violence based on traditional gender norms.
Diplomatic Mission Overshadowed
The incident came as President Macron began a strategic diplomatic tour of Asia, with stops in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore.
“It is in this Indo-Pacific region that a part of our collective future, as French women and men, is being played out,” Macron said during his remarks in Vietnam.
He continued:
“The major challenges of the century—climate, economic, and geopolitical—can only be met in cooperation with our partners and especially with this region of the world, a key crossroads of global trade, a centre of innovation, growth, and technology.”
France Seeks Stronger Global Ties
Macron’s Asia visit is part of a broader strategy to strengthen France’s global alliances, particularly as tensions have previously flared between the EU and the United States under former President Donald Trump.
“I am here to strengthen our ties in essential areas: defence, innovation, energy transition, and cultural exchanges. Everywhere, I will say one simple thing: France is a power for peace and balance. It is a reliable partner that believes in dialogue and cooperation. When some choose to withdraw, France chooses to build bridges,” he said.
While Macron continues to project France as a stable and strategic global player, the video has raised uncomfortable questions about how society perceives physical contact — playful or otherwise — when it involves a man on the receiving end. Whether this was truly a harmless gesture or something more serious, the immediate dismissal of the event highlights the ongoing need to have more balanced, critical conversations about domestic violence in all its forms.
