Right-Wing Francophiles Shocked By Brigitte's Face Push Of Macron
On May 25, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron was caught on camera being pushed in the face by his wife, Brigitte Macron, as they disembarked from a plane in Hanoi, Vietnam, at the start of a Southeast Asia tour. The viral footage, captured by The Associated Press, showed Brigitte, 72, using both hands to shove the 47-year-old president, momentarily startling him before he recovered with a smile and wave. The Élysée Palace downplayed the incident as a playful moment, with Macron himself dismissing it as “joking around,” but the image of the older, assertive Brigitte—whose 24-year age gap with Macron has long drawn scrutiny—fueled speculation and mockery. Some, like body language expert Judi James cited in the Daily Mail, argued the act appeared far from playful, noting Macron’s clenched fist as a sign of suppressed anger, amplifying perceptions of a power imbalance in their relationship.
This incident, widely circulated on platforms like X, has been seized upon by right-wing commentators and activists globally as a symbol of Macron’s perceived weakness, both personally and politically. Posts on X, such as one from @felix_olafur, expressed support for far-right figures like Marine Le Pen, suggesting France needs stronger leadership to restore national pride. The video, amplified by Russian state media and figures like Maria Zakharova, who mockingly called it a “right hook,” has been weaponized to portray Macron as emasculated, with some far-right accounts reviving baseless claims about Brigitte’s gender to further humiliate him. These narratives, rooted in the couple’s unconventional history—Brigitte was Macron’s 39-year-old teacher when they met as he was 15—have galvanized right-wing “Francophiles” who view the incident as emblematic of a broader cultural and political decline in France.
The public shaming has sparked a wave of solidarity among right-wing groups worldwide, who see Macron’s humiliation as a rallying cry to “put France back on the right path.” Commentators like Ivan Rioufol, quoted in The New York Times, suggested the incident reflects Macron’s inability to command respect, even at home, fueling calls for a return to traditionalist values and stronger leadership. On X, users like @mujeebbhutto2 framed the shove as a metaphor for Macron’s political failures, accusing him of ignoring protests and posturing as Europe’s savior. This sentiment has united far-right factions, from French nationalists to international populists, who argue that France’s global influence and cultural identity require a rejection of Macron’s centrist policies in favor of a more assertive, conservative agenda, potentially reshaping the nation’s political landscape ahead of future elections.
