Donald Trump mocks Macron over wife’s viral ‘slap’ video — Here’s how the French President responded

A fresh diplomatic row appears to be brewing after U.S. President Donald Trump mocked French President Emmanuel Macron over a past viral incident involving his wife Brigitte Macron, prompting a sharp response from the French leader who termed the comments “inelegant” and inappropriate.

Trump’s remarks spark controversy

The controversy erupted after Donald Trump, speaking at a public gathering, made a light-hearted yet pointed reference to a widely circulated video showing Emmanuel Macron being struck by Brigitte Macron during a visit to Vietnam last year.

In his remarks, Trump joked that Macron was “still recovering” from the incident, drawing laughter from the audience while mimicking the French president in a caricatured accent. The U.S. President used the anecdote while recounting a hypothetical conversation with Macron about military cooperation in the Middle East.


The comments come amid heightened geopolitical tensions, with Washington pressing allies for greater support in securing key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron hits back, calls remarks ‘not up to standard’

Responding during a media interaction on an այց to Seoul, Emmanuel Macron refrained from escalating the rhetoric but criticised the tone of the remarks.

“We are talking about serious matters, war, human lives, and economic consequences,” Macron said, as quoted in a report by The Sun, stressing that such comments were “neither elegant nor up to standard.”

He added that the remarks did not merit a detailed response and instead underscored the need for global powers to focus on de-escalation, ceasefire efforts and diplomatic negotiations.

Viral moment resurfaces in political discourse

The incident referenced by Trump dates back to a widely shared clip showing Brigitte Macron appearing to push or slap her husband as they prepared to disembark from a plane in Hanoi.

The moment, though brief, sparked global discussion at the time, with officials downplaying its significance. However, Trump’s revival of the episode has brought it back into international political conversation.

Wider tensions over NATO and Middle East

The exchange also comes against the backdrop of broader tensions between the United States and its allies. Donald Trump has recently criticised NATO members over what he described as insufficient support in strategic conflicts.

He has also warned of potential escalation in the Middle East, including threats targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure if key shipping routes remain blocked.

In parallel, concerns have been raised by defence analysts about the implications of any potential shift in U.S. commitment to NATO, with some experts warning of significant security challenges for the alliance in such a scenario.

European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, have consistently emphasised diplomatic engagement and multilateral cooperation as the preferred path forward.

FAQs:

What did Donald Trump say about Emmanuel Macron?

Donald Trump joked that Emmanuel Macron was “still recovering” from a past incident involving Brigitte Macron, referencing a viral video.

How did Emmanuel Macron respond?

Macron called the remarks “inelegant” and said they were not appropriate given the seriousness of global issues.