HANOI — French President Emmanuel Macron’s office on Monday downplayed a viral video showing his wife, Brigitte Macron, appearing to push his face as the couple disembarked from a plane in Vietnam, the first stop of his tour of Southeast Asia.

Footage captured by the Associated Press on Sunday evening in Hanoi shows the aircraft door opening and Macron appearing at the threshold.

Brigitte Macron’s arms reach from the side of the doorway, placing both hands on the president’s face in what appears to be a shove.

Macron looks momentarily surprised but quickly recovers and waves. Brigitte remains partially hidden behind the aircraft door, and her expression is not visible.

As they descended the staircase for an official welcome by Vietnamese officials, Brigitte Macron declined to take her husband’s offered arm, further fueling online speculation.

The brief clip quickly gained traction on social media, particularly among accounts typically critical of Macron.

The French presidency initially denied the video’s authenticity but later confirmed its legitimacy. A close presidential aide, speaking anonymously to Agence France-Presse (AFP), described the moment as a “harmless squabble” between the couple.

Another member of Macron’s entourage suggested the pair were simply “joking around” and “decompressing” before the start of the official visit, calling it a “moment of togetherness” that had been misinterpreted.

The official also blamed the reaction on pro-Russian online accounts and conspiracy theorists.

Macron is on a multi-nation tour of Southeast Asia aimed at positioning France as a strategic alternative to both the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region.

He is also scheduled to visit Indonesia and Singapore later this week. — Agencies